Lightweights
Beneil Dariush (13-2) vs. Rashid Magomedov (19-1)Dariush and Magomedov are out-fighters by nature -- but with layers. Magomedov tends towards counterpunching, using long kicks and jabs to pick away from range while shooting arrow-straight right hands and swift left hooks to stun opponents as they wade into range. Dariush, meanwhile, has a penchant for pressure fighting and brawling that no doubt stems from his long tutelage under swarming maestro Rafael Cordeiro.
Dariush is an excellent submission grappler, as well. He paid for his confidence against Michael Chiesa, a man I have dubbed “The RNC King” but also managed to stifle the submission prowess of expert finisher Jim Miller and thwart the best efforts of third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Carlos Diego Ferreira. Dariush is not lost when it comes to wrestling, either. He stops takedowns well and finishes a respectable if not overwhelming 32 percent of the shots he attempts. Aside from the Chiesa fight, Dariush never loses when he succeeds in taking his opponent to the ground.
Magomedov is an excellent wrestler in his own right, though he rarely attempts takedowns. His takedown defense stands at a superb 82 percent, and when he does shoot, usually as an opportunistic shot in the midst of a scramble, he succeeds 75 percent of the time. Magomedov’s bread and butter, of course, is the striking. His control of distance is exceptional, and he builds his combinations intelligently, never letting an opponent slip out of range without landing his punishing left kick. Magomedov has been criticized for his lack of aggression but nonetheless he seems to hurt every opponent he fights, almost accidentally. Chalk that up to stellar technique and timing.
THE ODDS: Magomedov (-140), Dariush (+120)
THE PICK: This one could go either way. Dariush is the best opponent Magomedov has faced in the UFC, and the Dagestani’s chances are further complicated by the fact that he has been out of action for nearly a year. Dariush is capable of being more aggressive, and his powerful kicking game will keep him afloat at Magomedov’s preferred range. Nonetheless, Dariush pressures in the Cordeiro way, favoring confidence and aggression over defensive responsibility. That works against the likes of James Vick, but Magomedov is not one to be cowed by aggression. If anything, it makes his counterpunching game all the more dangerous. The pick is Magomedov by unanimous decision.
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