Rivalries: Drakkar Klose

If absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder, Drakkar Klose must be champing at the bit.

The South Haven, Michigan, native will return to the Octagon for the first time in more than two years when he locks horns with Brandon Jenkins in a UFC on ESPN 34 lightweight pairing this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Klose has rattled off three wins across his past four outings, but inconsistency and activity have curbed some of the enthusiasm that once surrounded him. The 34-year-old former Rage in the Cage titleholder boasts a 5-2 record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

As Klose sets his sights on his forthcoming battle with Jenkins at 155 pounds, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Beneil Dariush

The suddenly on-fire Kings MMA export extended his winning streak to four bouts with a sensational one-punch knockout of Klose in the second round of their UFC 248 lightweight feature on March 7, 2020 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was over 60 seconds into Round 2. Dariush controlled the first five minutes with superior grappling, as he climbed to the back, secured his position with a standing body triangle and hunted rear-naked chokes. A firefight broke out at the start of the second round, where both men were staggered by power punches. Dariush pushed the MMA Lab rep backward and uncorked a hellacious left hook that froze Klose where he stood and brought their encounter to a sudden and dramatic close. Never before had he been finished.

Bobby Green

Klose leaned on his commitment to low leg kicks and relentless forward pressure when he walked away with a unanimous decision over the former King of the Cage champion in a three-round UFC on Fox 31 lightweight prelim on Dec. 15, 2018 at the Fiserv Forum in in Milwaukee. All three judges scored it 29-28. Green was accurate and measured throughout the 15-minute fight, piling up points with chopping right hands and stiff jabs. He did his best work in the second round, where he executed a body-lock takedown, hammered away with ground-and-pound—his assault included shoulder strikes—and eventually achieved full mount. However, his inability to finish cost him. Klose fought with a renewed purpose in Round 3, continued to target the leg with kicks, moved forward and answered Green’s combinations with some of his own. It was enough to curry favor from the judges.

David Teymur

Crisp counterpunching, hard leg kicks and exceptional takedown defense carried the Allstars Training Center export to a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Klose as part of the UFC 218 undercard on Dec. 2, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Teymur swept the scorecards with 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 marks from the judges. Klose had no answer for the Swede’s timing and surgical precision, and he became increasingly frustrated with the situation. Teymur threaded straight left hands, battered the inside of the MMA Lab prospect’s lead leg with kicks and even mixed in a takedown in the second round. Klose attempted to bait him into exchanges with repeated taunts, but his efforts proved fruitless. By the time it was over, Teymur had outstruck him by a 52-39 margin in significant strikes and held a 71-55 edge in total strikes.

Marc Diakiese

Klose remained undefeated with a split decision over the former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion at “The Ultimate Fighter 25” Finale on July 7, 2017 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All three cageside judges struck 29-28 scorecards: Jeff Mullen and Marcos Rosales for Klose, Derek Cleary for Diakiese. Klose focused his attention on the lower lead leg, peppering the American Top Team representative with kicks to the calf—a tactic often employed by MMA Lab stablemate Benson Henderson. Twice he knocked down Diakiese with leg kicks, leaving the explosive Brit compromised and looking for answers. Klose was also effective in close quarters, applying pressure in the clinch with foot stomps and knees. Diakiese made his move in the third round, where he slapped Klose in the face with a switch kick, outmaneuvered him on the mat and generally was the busier of the two competitors. His efforts swayed one judge, but they were not enough to save him from his first defeat.