vs
+136 -104
UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira · Jun 28, 2025 · Lightweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira Next Fight
Age 37
Height 5' 10"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 37
Height 5' 11"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Beneil Dariush
3.78 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
2.62 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
2.11 TD Avg
38.0% TD Acc.
82.0% TD Def.
0.8 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Renato Moicano
4.1 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
3.55 SApM
59.0% Str. Def.
1.68 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
64.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Beneil Dariush
Moneyline
DraftKings +136
KO/TKO
BetMGM +430
Submission
DraftKings +1150
Decision
BetMGM +280
Renato Moicano
Moneyline
FanDuel -104
KO/TKO
BetMGM +550
Submission
BetRivers +500
Decision
FanDuel +410
Beneil Dariush - Fight History
TKO R1 3:29 · UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates · May 02, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 0 3 of 9 33% 4 of 10 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:32
Quillan Salkilld 1 12 of 19 63% 15 of 24 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 3 of 9 33% 4 of 10 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:32
Quillan Salkilld 1 12 of 19 63% 15 of 24 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 3 of 9 33% 2 of 7 0 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 7 0 of 2 0 of 0
Quillan Salkilld 12 of 19 63% 11 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 13 2 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 3 of 9 33% 2 of 7 0 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 7 0 of 2 0 of 0
Quillan Salkilld 12 of 19 63% 11 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 13 2 of 3 3 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld

Round 1
In the co-main event, perennial contender Dariush (23-7-1; 17-7-1 UFC) will look to slow the rise of the red-hot Aussie Salkilld (11-1; 4-0 UFC), who has racked up quite the highlight reel since graduating from the Contender Series two years ago. Rich Mitchell draws his final referee assignment of the evening. Salkilld is orthodox, Dariush southpaw, and they exchange awkward pawing jabs with their lead hands. Out of nowhere, Dariush blasts Salkilld with a left hand, buckling his knees! Dariush is all over him but Salkilld recovers quickly, nailing Dariush with a left hand on his way in. Dariush shoves Salkilld into the fence, mugs him with a couple of punches and tries to secure a takedown. Salkilld goes to a knee but doesn’t give up the takedown, and he returns to his feet a moment later. Salkilld reverses the position and drives Dariush into the fence, only to be reversed again. Dariush works for a single-leg against the fence, but Salkilld patiently defends. They separate and Salkilld briefly changes levels, then comes back up and blasts him with a right hand.
Dariush is hurt badly, trying to get his hands on the youngster and recover, but Salkilld crushes him with another right hand that drops him. Salkilld follows up with a stream of big lefts until Mitchell interposes himself, awarding the TKO, and the biggest win of his career, to Quillan Salkilld.

The Official Result
Quillan Salkilld def. Beneil Dariush R1 3:29 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

Angelo picks Quillan Salkilld, acknowledging that Beneil Dariush is past his prime with a compromised chin and cardio. He believes Salkilld is the better striker and should win, but hopes Dariush doesn't get knocked out badly. He notes that if Salkilld tries to grapple, Dariush might have an advantage.

"Quan's going to be the pick. I'll be rooting hard for Ben Darus though."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

Big Brady picks Quillan Salkilld to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Beneil Dariush has elite skills but a completely compromised chin, and that Salkilld has power and has knocked out durable opponents. Brady believes Dariush will get touched early and finished, especially given his age and weight cut issues.

Salkilld by KO, round 1
"Give me Quillin Sal Khill to win this fight and win it by first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

Cody picks Salkilld by knockout, citing Dariush's declining durability and history of getting knocked out. He notes Salkilld's power and length, and believes Dariush's chin is no longer reliable.

KO prop
"Kill him and Sfield uh wins by knockout. That's my official pick."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

Daniel Vreeland picks Quillan Salkilld, believing he is catching Beneil Dariush at a good time. He notes Salkilld's well-rounded skills and momentum, while Dariush has shown vulnerability to knockouts and may be past his prime. He expects a competitive fight but sees Salkilld's damage as decisive.

"I think Quillin's catching him at a good time. Kind of a big favorite, kind of a big price for my liking, but I'm going to pick Quillin South to win this fight."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Odds feel very wide; Salkilld is a big favorite but unproven. Dariush is declining but skilled. The fight spread on Dariush (+3.5) and over 1.5 rounds are interesting but not committed. No bet on moneyline; dog or pass.

Considering Dariush +3.5 fight spread and over 1.5 rounds
"I think it's dog or pass, Dariush or nothing. I'm not going to be betting this fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

Lucrative James picks Quillan Salkilld to win via knockout in round one. He cites Beneil Dariush's declining chin and recent knockout losses, and believes the UFC is setting up Salkilld as a prospect. He notes Dariush's weight cut issues and desire to move up to welterweight.

"I think Quillin's going to knock him out, boys. That's all I really have to say."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 28, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

The host picks Salkilld due to his youth, durability, and well-rounded skills. He expects Salkilld to strike first and find a knockout, likely early in round one. The host notes Dariush's chin issues and recent knockout loss, making it hard to trust him despite his grappling prowess.

Knockout win; round one finish
"I think if Salkild comes out there striking first, striking heavy, striking focused, he should be able to find that big shot to to put uh Darush away here. So, um I'll go Sil. I'll go Sill by by knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

Paul agrees with Cody, stating Dariush has all the skills but can't take a punch anymore. He highlights Salkilld's power and the fact that Dariush has been knocked out repeatedly, making Salkilld by KO the likely outcome.

KO prop
"I can't agree more. I mean, Benil Der has got all the other skills... but his ability to take a punch isn't quite there anymore."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 1, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Quillan Salkilld

The MMA Guru picks Quillan Salkilld, citing his first-round finishing potential and the pattern of younger athletes beating Dariush. He notes Dariush's recent chin issues and believes Salkilld will get a first-round TKO. He acknowledges Salkilld's grappling skills but expects a striking finish.

first round TKO
"I'm going to go with Quillin Sal Caged getting this one done. TKO early first round."
KO R1 0:16 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Benoît Saint Denis 1 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Benoît Saint Denis 1 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2 2 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0
Benoît Saint Denis 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 2 of 3 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2 2 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0
Benoît Saint Denis 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 2 of 3 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis, citing his relentless pressure and wrestling. He believes Beneil Dariush is aging and was sloppy in his last fight. Despite Dariush's scrambling skills, Angelo thinks BSD's grit and non-stop pace will overcome technique. He notes he would have picked Dariush a few years ago.

"I have to go with Benois. I think good old-fashioned grit will beat just technique."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis, citing Beneil Dariush's compromised chin. He notes Dariush has been knocked out in three of his last four fights, including by Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, and was dropped by Hakeem Dawodu. Brady believes Saint Denis can take a punch better at this stage and predicts a first-round knockout in a war. He acknowledges Dariush's elite anti-grappling and skills but says the chin is the deciding factor.

first round knockout
"I'm going to say he's going to knock him out in the first round. It's going to be Ben Saint Anthony by first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Cody picks Dariush despite the risk of a first-round knockout. He notes that Dariush has excellent grappling and cardio, and that Saint Denis tends to fade and take damage in longer fights. Cody believes that if Dariush survives the early onslaught, he can take over with his wrestling and pressure. He suggests a live bet if Dariush gets through the first round.

"if he does not get KO'd stiff in the first round, he's live. He's live to win this fight."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Connor picks Dariush confidently, citing his superior grappling and scrambling. He notes that Saint Denis relies on aggression and faith in his conditioning, but Dariush is a fluid control grappler who will stay ahead in scrambles. He warns that Dariush could lose if knocked out, but in any grappling exchange, Dariush wins.

Odds: Dariush opened +250, now +160; Saint Denis opened -300, now -185. Connor comments that the line movement is age-based.
"I got to pick Dariouche. It's fairly simple. Same. Yep. If he loses, it's because he gets knocked out. If there's any grappling at all, he's very likely to win."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Daniel thinks Dariush is the better overall fighter but his chin is suspect, and Saint Denis has the power and pressure to test it. He notes that Saint Denis is riding high on confidence after dismantling Ruffy, while Dariush looks a fight or two away from retirement. He leans toward Saint Denis finding a knockout, but acknowledges Dariush has paths to victory if he can avoid getting hit clean.

"I kind of lean Santi to find that kill shot, but if he doesn't, this fight could play out in a variety of ways."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Lucrative James picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by knockout, despite acknowledging Dariush's superior scrambling and counter-grappling. He believes Dariush's durability is a major concern, as he has been knocked out multiple times and is getting older. He thinks BSD's relentless pressure and power will eventually catch Dariush on the feet, even if he struggles to secure takedowns. He predicts a KO victory for BSD, possibly via head kick or in a transition.

by KO
"I got Benois Denv knockout here, man."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Dariush is the better fighter. Saint Denis struggles to get grappling going. Dariush scrambles out of bad positions, keeps Saint Denis on the defensive, and finds a finish in the second or third round.

finish in the second or third round
"I think Santine will struggle to get his grappling going and ultimately that should lead to Daruse scrambling out of bad positions, keeping Sandi on the defensive and eventually finding a finish in the second or third round."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Paul agrees with Cody, preferring to watch the first round before betting due to the knockout risk. He notes that Saint Denis has gassed in past fights and that Dariush's takedown defense is excellent. Paul thinks that if Dariush can avoid early trouble, he can outwork Saint Denis and potentially submit him. He is not fully confident but leans towards Dariush.

"I'd prefer because of the first round knockout risk that is with every single Dariush fight to kind of just watch see how it plays out a little bit."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

The Guru picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by TKO in round two. He believes Saint Denis' pressure, clinch work, and body shots will wear down Dariush, who may struggle with the pace. He notes that both are evenly matched on the ground, but Saint Denis has a higher KO percentage and momentum. The Guru expects Saint Denis to break Dariush against the cage.

TKO in round 2
"I'm going to go with Benois. I'm going to go with Benoir. I think his clinch work will be good here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Dariush. He emphasizes that Saint Denis' aggressive, throw-himself-in style will not work against Dariush's relaxed, anticipatory grappling. He notes that Saint Denis lost to Moicano by being overwhelmed, and Dariush is a better grappler than Moicano.

Same odds commentary.
"I think you just can't rely on that kind of attitude against Benoit Dariouche. You have to go out there and be ready to pick him off and make him pay for his own overaggression."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira · Jun 28, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 0 56 of 107 52% 77 of 131 5 of 5 100% 0 0 5:53
Renato Moicano 1 31 of 61 50% 38 of 69 0 of 3 0% 0 1 1:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 22 of 46 47% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Renato Moicano 1 22 of 42 52% 25 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
2 Beneil Dariush 0 8 of 14 57% 28 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:46
Renato Moicano 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Beneil Dariush 0 26 of 47 55% 27 of 48 3 of 3 100% 0 0 1:07
Renato Moicano 0 8 of 17 47% 10 of 20 0 of 2 0% 0 1 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 56 of 107 52% 30 of 73 10 of 15 16 of 19 47 of 95 4 of 5 5 of 7
Renato Moicano 31 of 61 50% 25 of 52 4 of 6 2 of 3 25 of 54 4 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 22 of 46 47% 9 of 28 3 of 6 10 of 12 22 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Renato Moicano 22 of 42 52% 16 of 33 4 of 6 2 of 3 16 of 35 4 of 5 2 of 2
2 Beneil Dariush 8 of 14 57% 8 of 13 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 1 5 of 7
Renato Moicano 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Beneil Dariush 26 of 47 55% 13 of 32 7 of 8 6 of 7 22 of 43 4 of 4 0 of 0
Renato Moicano 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Angelo picks Beneil Dariush because he believes Dariush's grappling and striking are a good matchup against Renato Moicano, who he thinks is too busy with outside commitments to be fully focused. He notes that Dariush is a BJJ world champion and a powerful striker, and he doesn't see Moicano out-grappling him. He also points out that Moicano's takedowns are not clean and he often clinches, while Dariush has shown incredible scrambles against top competition.

Angelo calls Dariush a 'phenomenal underdog' and implies value.
"I'm going to stick with what I did the first time, and that's pick Beneil Dariush. And I'm even more confident now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Big Brady likes the stylistic matchup for Dariush, who has elite takedown defense and is the better striker with more power. However, he is worried about Dariush coming off back-to-back knockout losses, his age, and potential chin issues. He thinks Moicano doesn't have knockout power but could still hurt Dariush. Brady predicts Dariush will win by knockout, but he is not confident due to the layoff and durability concerns.

Dariush wins by second round knockout
"I'm going to go Benel Derush by knockout. I don't feel amazing about it."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Connor picks Dariush but is not confident. He notes that Moicano has never knocked anyone out standing, so Dariush can survive on the feet. He believes Dariush's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Moicano's confidence can waver when things go wrong. However, he acknowledges that Moicano's lightweight run has been unpredictable and that Dariush has been knocked out brutally before.

"I think he's going to beat Hanata Moikano. Moikano is just not that dangerous a striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The host is surprised Moicano is the favorite, believing Dariush's durability and grappling defense will shut down Moicano's approach. He predicts Dariush will land big shots and finish inside the distance, likely by TKO or submission within two and a half rounds.

inside the distance, TKO or submission, within two and a half rounds
"I really like Darius to shut down the grappling game of Moano then land some big shots of his own to eventually put Moano out probably by TKO maybe club and sub but either way I think Darush gets it …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The host picks Renato Moicano by decision, citing Dariush's long layoff and recent KO losses. He believes Moicano's grappling and striking have improved, and that he will start fast and set the tone. He expects a competitive fight but sees Moicano winning a 29-28 decision.

decision
"I'm taking Hanato Moano by decision here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Zane also picks Dariush but is hesitant. He agrees that Moicano is not a dangerous striker and that Dariush can likely outgrapple him. He notes that Dariush has fought and beaten good grapplers before. However, he acknowledges that Moicano's run has been strange and that he has a tendency to find ways to win even when losing.

"I think I'll take Daryu's too, but I do not feel confident."
LOSS vs Arman Tsarukyan
KO (knee and punches) R1 1:04 · UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan · Dec 02, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Arman Tsarukyan 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Beneil Dariush 1 8 of 15 53% 8 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Arman Tsarukyan 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Beneil Dariush 1 8 of 15 53% 8 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Arman Tsarukyan 2 of 8 25% 0 of 5 0 of 1 2 of 2 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Beneil Dariush 8 of 15 53% 8 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 2 of 2 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Arman Tsarukyan 2 of 8 25% 0 of 5 0 of 1 2 of 2 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Beneil Dariush 8 of 15 53% 8 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 2 of 2 2 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tsarukyan (-278), Dariush (+225)

Round 1
Lightweights close the show in the five-round headliner, where Dariush (22-5-1, 16-5-1 UFC) sets his sights on Tsarukyan (20-3, 7-2 UFC) at 155 pounds. Tsarukyan has rattled off eight victories across his past nine outings.
For more on the American Top Team standout, see “Rivalries: Arman Tsarukyan” in Features
. Smith administers the law and order once the Octagon door closes. They touch gloves to get us started in the final bout of the night. Dariush fires an inside leg kick, eats a jab and then attacks the leg again.
Tsarukyan steps forward with a knee and follows it with a brutal right hook, dropping Dariush where he stands. He then dives in with punches and pounds Dariush unconscious. A signature victory for the young lightweight contender
.

The Official Result
Arman Tsarukyan def. Beneil Dariush—KO (Punches) 1:04 R1
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Arman Tsarukyan

Big Brady picks Arman Tsarukyan, citing youth, cardio, and durability advantages. He notes Dariush has been finished in all five of his losses, and that Tsarukyan's relentless pace will break him down in the later rounds. He predicts a third-round TKO, as Tsarukyan's ground and pound and big shots will eventually finish Dariush.

third round TKO
"I see suruki going out there and getting a third round TKO in this one"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 29, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Arman Tsarukyan

Cody picks Tsarukyan but acknowledges Dariush's skills and path to victory. He notes Dariush's cardio, high ring IQ, and BJJ black belt, but thinks Tsarukyan's speed and youth are decisive. He mentions Tsarukyan's five-round experience and that he's only getting better. He doesn't love the money line but expects Tsarukyan to win, possibly by finish.

decision props considered but not bet
"I think darush is a lot a bigger like the it's a good plus money for sure and he's he he I think he's gonna give a better account of himself than that might dictate but it's not enough for …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Lucrative James picks Beneil Dariush, stating that the line is wide and disrespectful at +240. He believes Dariush can defend takedowns and scramble well, and is the better striker. He notes that Tsarukyan's youth and tenacity could be a factor in a five-round fight, but still sees Dariush as the side. He would go heavy on Dariush if it were a three-round fight.

"I definitely think benil darush is wied I think that darus is going to be able to defend the takedowns early"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Arman Tsarukyan

Tsarukyan has high-level wrestling and improving striking, and he is expected to control the fight with his grappling and striking advantage. However, Dariush is a live underdog with great scrambling and BJJ, making the fight closer than the odds suggest. Tsarukyan is predicted to win by decision over 3.5 rounds, but a small underdog shot on Dariush is also recommended due to value.

over 3.5 rounds, decision win predicted, half unit shot on Dariush mentioned
"prediction is suin but I am not touching that chalk darush is way more alive than plus 260 indicates"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 29, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Arman Tsarukyan

Paul thinks Tsarukyan is the rightful favorite due to a sizable speed advantage and good enough grappling to avoid submissions. He notes the line is wide but doesn't see much value at -310. He mentions Tsarukyan's speed in striking and entrances/exits as the biggest difference. He is not lining up to bet it but picks Tsarukyan.

"I think arman's a rightful favorite not one that I'm lining up to uh to go bet this week but suian is the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Arman Tsarukyan

The MMA Guru picks Arman Tsarukyan, believing his youth, wrestling, and striking will be too much for Beneil Dariush. He notes Tsarukyan's reach advantage and ability to win the leg kick battle. He predicts Tsarukyan will break Dariush down and win by TKO in the fourth round.

TKO in fourth round
"I'm going Arman Tsarukyan... I think he can pick at Dariush, annoy him, frustrate him, hurt him to the body and legs, break him down and I think he beats him by TKO in the fourth round."
TKO (punches) R1 4:10 · UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana · Jun 10, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Charles Oliveira 1 26 of 36 72% 37 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:31
Beneil Dariush 0 12 of 28 42% 32 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Charles Oliveira 1 26 of 36 72% 37 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:31
Beneil Dariush 0 12 of 28 42% 32 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:44
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Charles Oliveira 26 of 36 72% 23 of 32 3 of 3 0 of 1 7 of 13 3 of 3 16 of 20
Beneil Dariush 12 of 28 42% 8 of 24 3 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 14 0 of 0 6 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Charles Oliveira 26 of 36 72% 23 of 32 3 of 3 0 of 1 7 of 13 3 of 3 16 of 20
Beneil Dariush 12 of 28 42% 8 of 24 3 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 14 0 of 0 6 of 14
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dariush (-140), Oliveira (+120)

Round 1
Hold onto your hats, because a fight many fans and observers circled on their calendars is about to happen. Former champ Oliveira (33-9, 1 NC; 21-9, 1 NC UFC), fresh off losing his belt to Islam Makhachev, is aiming to bounce back from that submission loss. Across from him is the surging Dariush (22-4-1, 16-4-1 UFC), who has strung eight impressive wins together to earn this potential no. 1 contender matchup. While unfortunately only scheduled for three rounds, the two top lightweights might not need that long. Referee Jason Herzog earns the honor of officiating this co-main attraction, and the combatants respectfully bump fists first. Oliveira reaches out with a front kick, and as he does, Dariush kicks his lead leg. Oliveira walks straight into the fire, throwing a head kick and shaking Dariush up, and the two trade furious strikes. The two wind up clashing together, chest to chest, and Oliveira looks to lift Dariush and dump him to the mat but ends up falling to his back. Dariush sits in the close guard and lands a few punches, and Oliveira actively pushes off the chest and uses upkicks. Oliveira attacks with hammerfists while Dariush is striking him from above, and the blows from Dariush are heavier. Oliveira pursues a leglock, and he hooks Dariush’ leg beneath his armpit. Dariush stands up, and he slips his foot out and meanders back into Oliveira’s guard. Dariush swings hard down at his opponent, and he punches the floor a few times with Oliveira swaying back and forth. Oliveira kicks off with upkicks again, and Dariush settles to return to the closed guard, smacking the Brazilian with hammerfists and punches. Dariush avoids any traps, but Oliveira bursts back to his feet and knees his man in the chest. Oliveira abandons the clinch and boots Dariush in the head. Dariush is stung from that and a subsequent left hand, and he knocks Dariush to his knees with a clubbing right hand behind the ear. Dariush drops to go after a takedown, and when that fails, he rolls with desperation with for some kind of leglock. “Do Bronx” pushes right past it and slams his fists down on Dariush again and again. Dariush tries to turn to his side, but his bell is rung and Oliveira is not about to let him off the hook. The punches continue to mount for the Brazilian, who will not stop until Herzog pulls him off. As he keeps beating down the Kings MMA fighter, Herzog has no choice but to wave the fight off. The former champ peels off to jump atop the cage and soak it in as the deafening crowd showers him with cheers and affection. Oliveira climbs back down to embrace his fallen foe, and then he leaps out of the cage to go hug someone in the crowd. This is a statement performance for Oliveira, who claims his 20th finish as a UFC fighter, which adds to his own record. Lightweights will not likely going to line up wanting to face him next, and he has just one goal in mind: he wants his belt back, calling out Islam Makhachev and offering to the UFC brass that he will fight Makhachev on his home soil.

The Official Result
Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush R1 4:10 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Angelo picks Beneil Dariush, having placed 1.5 units on him at -125. He argues that Dariush is the better wrestler and grappler, and that his no-gi BJJ world championship credentials give him an edge. He believes Dariush can avoid Charles Oliveira's submission threats by staying controlled and not creating scrambles. He thinks Dariush's power and wrestling will be key.

Bet: 1.5 units on Beneil Dariush moneyline at -125
"I have one and a half units on him at minus 125"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Big Brady picks Beneil Dariush to finish Charles Oliveira in the first round. He notes that Dariush has the wrestling to dictate where the fight goes and has heavy hands. Oliveira is hittable and has been dropped in recent fights. Dariush's power and grappling should overwhelm Oliveira early. He predicts a knockdown followed by a submission or TKO.

first round finish
"I'll take Darius should go out there I think he knocks down Charles Oliveira um gets on top and and Subs them I think a tko's in play but I think he does finish Charles Oliveira and I think it's …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Cody picks Beneil Dariush despite being a fan of Oliveira. He argues that Dariush is a thinking man's fighter with high ring IQ, underrated power, and a nasty liver kick. He notes that Oliveira's reckless approach and durability issues (gets knocked down often) play into Dariush's precision. He also believes Dariush's wrestling and BJJ are good enough to grapple with Oliveira, and he can win standing or on the ground. He expects the fight to end inside the distance.

Fight ends inside distance
"I just feel like he's got a whole lot of ways to win this fight probably inside the distance"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Connor picks Dariush confidently, citing his superior grappling and pressure. He believes Dariush can out-grapple Oliveira and that Oliveira's submission threat is overrated. He notes that Dariush is willing to grapple and has the skills to neutralize Oliveira's guard. However, he acknowledges the risk of Oliveira's power and chaos.

Oliveira opened at +115, currently +123; Dariush opened at -127, currently -136.
"I'm going to pick Beniel Darjesh here as confidently as I think I possibly could."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Daniel Levi picks Beneil Dariush in a coin-toss fight, citing momentum and Dariush's time to get a title shot. He notes that Dariush has paid his dues and is on a win streak, while Oliveira has been dropped in his last three fights. He believes Dariush will not be afraid to follow Oliveira to the ground, unlike previous opponents, and that Dariush's calm, pressure-based Jiu-Jitsu can neutralize Oliveira's non-stop attacking style. However, he acknowledges Oliveira's offensive potency and the possibility of Dariush getting hurt.

"the reason I'm picking banil is because the momentum's on his side I think right now simply his time"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2023 (fight day)
Beneil Dariush

James picks Beneil Dariush, believing Oliveira's time at the top is done. He thinks Dariush's distance control with his left kick and technical striking can make Oliveira look amateur on the feet, similar to how Islam Makhachev did. He also believes Dariush can get takedowns and has elite jiu-jitsu to avoid submissions. However, he notes Dariush's chin is vulnerable and he could be dragged into a brawl, where Oliveira has an edge. James sees Dariush winning by decision or submission, and considers the moneyline value good.

Beneil Dariush by submission at +450 (not played)
"I think Charles oliviera's time in the sunshine is done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Dariush has a well-rounded game with improved striking and excellent defensive grappling. Oliveira is dangerous everywhere but has shown vulnerability to pressure and wrestling. Dariush's ability to stuff takedowns and land on the feet should lead to a finish, likely by KO. The under 2.5 rounds is a strong play given both fighters' finishing rates.

Under 2.5 rounds (-165), Dariush wins by KO
"I think it's going to be bonill der Rouge getting his hand raised"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Paul leans toward Dariush, citing his technical striking and smart approach. He thinks Oliveira could do crazy things early, but once Dariush susses out the situation, he will take over and find his advantage. Paul is not betting this fight but is interested in a PrizePicks play on under 1.5 takedowns for Dariush, reasoning that Dariush may not want to go to the ground with Oliveira.

Under 1.5 takedowns for Dariush on PrizePicks
"I do side with you and I ever so slightly leaned towards baniel Darius just on the fact that I think he's got a little bit more technical solid technical striking"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The MMA Guru picks Beneil Dariush over Charles Oliveira, despite wanting Oliveira to win. He notes Dariush's consistent recent performances, great takedown defense, and improving hands. He worries about Oliveira's tendency to get dropped and his injury layoff. He believes Dariush can control where the fight goes and may finish or win a decision.

"I'm gonna go with banil Darius over Charles Oliveira as much as I love Charles Oliveira I'm worried for him in this matchup"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Zane also picks Dariush, emphasizing that if Dariush can scramble with Oliveira on the ground, he can win. He notes that Dariush's defensive wrestling and scrambling were impressive against Gamrot and Ferreira. He acknowledges the danger of Oliveira's striking but believes Dariush's grappling advantage is key.

"I guess I'll go Darjush. The biggest thing just being that if he can really just scramble like crazy with Olivera on the ground, I think he can get this fight into a place where he's more fit to win …"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29-28) R3 5:00 · UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev · Oct 22, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 1 59 of 130 45% 67 of 138 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:34
Mateusz Gamrot 0 33 of 81 40% 38 of 86 4 of 19 21% 0 0 2:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 9 of 26 34% 13 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Mateusz Gamrot 0 9 of 13 69% 13 of 17 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:22
2 Beneil Dariush 0 31 of 67 46% 32 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Mateusz Gamrot 0 15 of 47 31% 15 of 47 1 of 7 14% 0 0 0:10
3 Beneil Dariush 1 19 of 37 51% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Mateusz Gamrot 0 9 of 21 42% 10 of 22 1 of 6 16% 0 0 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 59 of 130 45% 35 of 100 15 of 21 9 of 9 52 of 121 2 of 3 5 of 6
Mateusz Gamrot 33 of 81 40% 22 of 67 9 of 12 2 of 2 29 of 76 4 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 9 of 26 34% 2 of 16 4 of 7 3 of 3 7 of 23 1 of 2 1 of 1
Mateusz Gamrot 9 of 13 69% 8 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 9 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Beneil Dariush 31 of 67 46% 19 of 53 8 of 10 4 of 4 27 of 62 0 of 0 4 of 5
Mateusz Gamrot 15 of 47 31% 9 of 40 4 of 5 2 of 2 14 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Beneil Dariush 19 of 37 51% 14 of 31 3 of 4 2 of 2 18 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
Mateusz Gamrot 9 of 21 42% 5 of 16 4 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gamrot (-195), Dariush (+165)

Round 1
Like every other main card tilt, this lightweight affair pitting Dariush (21-4-1, 15-4-1 UFC) against Gamrot (21-1, 1 NC; 4-1 UFC) has nearly immediate championship implications, as the victor could very likely be next in line for the winner of the headliner a few fights from now. Before they can look ahead, they have to get past the other, and they will do so under the watchful eye of referee Dan Movahedi. The two bump fists, and after a few seconds to find their feet in the cage, Dariush slings a pair of quick kicks. Dariush rushes forward with a high kick, and Gamrot attacks for a takedown. A furious scramble ensues, and Gamrot lowers Dariush down but finds himself in leglock danger. Dariush attempts to sweep with this, but the two end up back on their feet. Gamrot pushes him to the wall, but he releases his foe and they reset. The right ear of Gamrot is split, and it starts to bleed, but he pays it no mind. Dariush attacks with a few low kicks, and Gamrot catches a body kick that follows and dumps Dariush to the mat. Dariush pursues a leglock as soon as they hit the ground, and he considers a heel hook but is on the wrong side without the right leverage to lock it down. “Gamer” pulls his leg out and stands up, and Dariush follows him. Gamrot stays tightly pressed to his opponent, before releasing him and backing off. An odd takedown entry allows Gamrot to get his hands on Dariush and drag the fight down, but Dariush defends with an awkward position to stop it. Dariush implores the referee to break them up, so Gamrot answers this by taking Dariush’s legs out beneath him. The Polish fighter cannot keep Dariush down, so he backs off and lets Dariush kick him in the side. On the kick, Gamrot grabs it, and he gives a shove but cannot ground Dariush this time. They trade kicks, and Gamrot slips on the way out before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gamrot
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Gamrot
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Gamrot

Round 2
Sherdog encountered some technical difficulties at the beginning of this round, and we apologize for the inconvenience. We resume the action at the beginning of Round 2. The lightweights touch ‘em up, and Gamrot leans forward into a punch and has a strange reaction to it, but it could have been from a possible takedown setup. Gamrot resets and crashes forward for an authentic try, and Dariush tosses him aside and lets Gamrot get his footing again. Dariush kicks the body and gets punched in the head for his effort, and Gamrot counters another kick with an overhand right. Dariush pushes a jab out, and he sets up a high kick that glances off the shoulder. The lightweights clash legs at the same time, and Dariush walks forward to engage only to get sniped with a jab. Gamrot dives down to the ankle to take the fight down, and Dariush pulls his leg away and backs away. Dariush intercepts his opponent with a stern knee, and he targets the body with his shin as his legs continue to be his best weapon. A Gamrot takedown is stuffed, and Dariush makes him pay by chopping at his lead leg. The single strikes come back and forth, and Gamrot darts forward to throw a few in a bundle, but Dariush slips and rips with a left hand. The former KSW champ slowly moves forward without pulling the trigger, and he is forced to block a high kick that rolls off his shoulder. Dariush scoops up an uppercut and gets backed off with an overhand right, and Gamrot blitzes him with a knee. Gamrot sprints at his foe for one final takedown, and the scramble that ensues ends the round with both men on their seats.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dariush
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Dariush
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Dariush

Round 3
The top lightweights meet in the middle and offer half-hearted gloved touch that is more of a jab, and Gamrot claims the center of the cage. Gamrot punches his way into a takedown entry, but the veteran savvy of Dariush smoothly flows with the attempt and forces Gamrot to release his grip and stand back up. Dariush lets him have it with a flush kick to the body, and he lets go with a subsequent pair of kicks to the upper thigh. As Gamrot replies with a head kick try, Dariush pops him with a right hook. Gamrot comes up short with another high kick, and Dariush sees his strikes coming and is seemingly one step ahead of the offense. Dariush lifts up a knee that bounces off the midsection when Gamrot strides forward, and Gamrot continues to give chase no matter what he absorbs. The crowd appears distracted with the drama outside the cage, and they rain down a shower of boos not targeting the fighters but at that individual or individuals. As they are paying attention to something out of the cage, Gamrot leaps forward to snatch up Dariush’s lead leg and look for a takedown, but the attempt fails and Dariush gains his balance and hops away. Gamrot loops a right hand over the top, but it is one-and-done when Dariush backpedals. Dariush prepares a left-hand counter for when Gamrot walks into his range, and he times a spectacular blow that knocks Gamrot clean off his feet. The recoverability of Gamrot is solid, as he somersaults back and gets right back into action following the flash knockdown. Gamrot punches his way into a takedown attempt, and Dariush smoothly follows him all the way through to get to his knees and back up without spending much time on his back. The fight comes to an end with one final exchange of alternating punches, and the lightweights hug it out after the bell sounds. It remains to be seen if the victor here has done enough to earn a crack at the triumphant man of the main event, a shot which also hinges on the result of that match itself.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dariush (29-28 Dariush)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Dariush (29-28 Dariush)
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Dariush (29-28 Dariush)

The Official Result
Beneil Dariush def. Mateusz Gamrot via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Angelo picks Mateusz Gamrot confidently, stating he is better everywhere than Dariush. He highlights Gamrot's wrestling, power, cardio, and pace, and notes that Dariush has been waiting for a title shot while Gamrot has been active. He has 2 units on Gamrot at -185 and expects the line to move.

"gamrod's a clear pick his minus 185 odds right now are solid those are definitely going to move I got two units on that"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Big Brady picks Gamrot to win by knockout in the second round. He questions Dariush's chin (three knockout losses) and believes Gamrot's volume and deceptive power will catch him. He expects the fight to play out mostly on the feet, with Gamrot dictating the range. He notes Dariush's striking is underrated but trusts Gamrot to land a finishing shot.

second round knockout
"I think gamra knocks him out and uh moves up these rankings so I like gamrod here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Cody thinks Gamrot is the pick, noting his wrestling pedigree and takedown defense. He believes Gamrot's pressure and pace will be key, and that Dariush may struggle with cardio. Cody acknowledges Dariush is a live underdog but feels Gamrot is getting more comfortable and should put on a clean performance. He is not super high on Gamrot this week because Dariush could spoil.

"the pick is gamma and I'm gonna ride with him"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Connor picks Gamrot, citing his incredible pace and cardio, which he believes will wear down Dariush over three rounds. He notes that Dariush often gasses after going berserk, and Gamrot's ability to keep up high-intensity scrambles will exploit that. However, he acknowledges that Dariush could win early if he lands a big shot or imposes his grappling.

"I'm gonna take Gamrot because he's got an incredible pace... he has a way of sort of sucking some of the life out of the fight on the feet."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Daniel Levi slightly leans toward Mateusz Gamrot. He praises Gamrot's unorthodox low single leg takedown and relentless pressure, noting he attempted 21 takedowns against Arman Tsarukyan. Levi is concerned about Dariush's recent broken ankle and whether he will be fully recovered. He thinks Dariush has the better striking, especially body kicks, but worries that Gamrot's wrestling and scrambling could overwhelm Dariush over three rounds. Levi does not bet this fight.

"I'm gonna slightly lean towards gamroth though but I mean I can't blame someone for taking a plus 165 on their use."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 18, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Gamrot has shown he can grapple with high-level fighters like Arman Tsarukyan. Dariush's reckless style may leave him open to counters. Gamrot is the cleaner striker and has cardio advantage. The under 2.5 at +160 or Gamrot inside the distance at +250 are intriguing. A one-unit shot on the under is the play.

Under 2.5 rounds at +160; Gamrot inside the distance at +250; Gamrot by KO at +500
"the under two and a half at plus 160 which is the last line I saw that has my Intrigue but even uh gamrod inside the distance at plus 250 I think is a great line as well"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Paul is torn but leans Gamrot, citing that wrestling may be negated in the big cage and that Gamrot has speed and grappling advantages. He mentions Dariush's chin issues from the past and that Gamrot's power could be a factor. Paul is not sure about betting but picks Gamrot.

"gamrat's the pick for me as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

The MMA Guru picks Mateusz Gamrot over Beneil Dariush. He questions the quality of Dariush's wins (e.g., Ferguson) and notes Dariush's long layoff due to a broken leg. He believes Gamrot's youth, momentum, and grappling will overwhelm Dariush, predicting a decision win with some dangerous moments.

"I'm going with Matteo Shamrock now"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Zane picks Dariush, arguing that Dariush's well-rounded game and ability to control the fight early will give him an edge. He notes that Dariush is a hell of a grappler and can match Gamrot's wrestling, and that Gamrot's takedowns don't lead to control. He admits it's a close fight and that Dariush's tendency to get hurt is a concern, but he thinks Dariush can win a decision or finish.

"I'll take the flyer on Dariush. I think Dariush is gonna probably have a really good round one."
WIN vs Tony Ferguson
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler · May 15, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 0 15 of 34 44% 37 of 59 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:05
Tony Ferguson 0 23 of 55 41% 76 of 142 3 of 6 50% 1 1 12:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 7 of 18 38% 13 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tony Ferguson 0 10 of 28 35% 32 of 66 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:40
2 Beneil Dariush 0 2 of 4 50% 11 of 16 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:05
Tony Ferguson 0 6 of 14 42% 26 of 41 1 of 2 50% 1 1 4:04
3 Beneil Dariush 0 6 of 12 50% 13 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tony Ferguson 0 7 of 13 53% 18 of 35 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 15 of 34 44% 10 of 29 5 of 5 0 of 0 6 of 23 1 of 1 8 of 10
Tony Ferguson 23 of 55 41% 16 of 48 3 of 3 4 of 4 15 of 44 1 of 1 7 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 7 of 18 38% 6 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 13 1 of 1 4 of 4
Tony Ferguson 10 of 28 35% 6 of 24 1 of 1 3 of 3 9 of 27 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Beneil Dariush 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1
Tony Ferguson 6 of 14 42% 5 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 6 0 of 0 5 of 8
3 Beneil Dariush 6 of 12 50% 3 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 7 0 of 0 3 of 5
Tony Ferguson 7 of 13 53% 5 of 11 2 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 11 0 of 0 2 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush

Round 1
Up next is the long-awaited co-main event, which sees Ferguson (25-5, 15-3 UFC) try to snap the first losing streak of his career against the surging Dariush (20-4-1, 14-4-1 UFC). Hold on to your hats, this one is about to get crazy. Referee Mike Beltran clocks them in and they do not touch gloves, preferring to let their hands settle things instead. Ferguson stutter-steps forward into a left hand, but he is no worse for wear from it. Dariush kicks across Ferguson’s leg to his surprise, and he darts in with a left hook that falls short. Dariush charges in to attack, and Ferguson eats a few shots but is slick and moving everywhere to avoid the shots. Dariush scores another unusual leg kick to Ferguson’s rear leg, and Dariush is ready to brawl and throws hands to catch Ferguson off-guard. Dariush presses forward, and he hits a body lock takedown to plant Ferguson on his back. Ferguson kicks him off, scores an upkick, and pulls a high rubber guard when Dariush climbs back down. Dariush ignores it and pushes through to land a few punches to the body, but “El Cucuy” is holding him tight and elbowing him on the side of the head a few times. Ferguson looks to set up a triangle choke, but when that fails, he recovers his guard. Dariush sits up to start nailing Ferguson with punches and elbows, and Ferguson takes them on the chin all while continuing to hack back with elbows. Ferguson rolls over to nearly sweep Dariush, but he is pushed back over and finds himself surrendering half guard. Dariush steps over to set up an arm-triangle choke, and Ferguson looks to roll through and attack with an armbar as he pushes off the fence. Dariush sees it coming and flows with him, where he slides into Ferguson’s butterfly guard. The Kings MMA fighter resecures half guard, and he steps over to the other side to land some ground-and-pound. When Dariush looks to congratulate him for the round, Ferguson pushes him away to go back to his corner.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dariush
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dariush
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dariush

Round 2
The second round begins with Ferguson taking the center of the cage, and Dariush kicks his lead leg. Ferguson falls down Dariush looks to take him down. Instead of succumbing to a bad position, Ferguson attacks a brabo choke from his back against the wall. Dariush stays patient and unconcerned with the submission until Ferguson bails on it, where he looks to pull Ferguson’s legs out from beneath him. Dariush pulls him off the fence to put Ferguson flat on his back, and Dariush in full guard starts slugging away at Ferguson. Dariush ignores Ferguson’s flailing on his back to smash his fists on Ferguson’s head, and elbows and punches land until Ferguson tries to push him away. Dariush stays committed to keeping Ferguson grounded, and Ferguson attacks with a submission to get Dariush to back off. Ferguson sweeps Dariush in a wild scramble, and Dariush pulls him back down to attack a heel hook. Ferguson is in serious agony, and he grimaces but does not yell out and instead kicks Dariush in the chest to break the grip. As Dariush loosens the grip, he climbs over on top. Dariush steps into half guard, where he threatens with an arm-triangle choke but is more intent on smothering Ferguson’s face with his chest. Ferguson elbows him a few times, but Dariush does not care as he stays pressed heavy to the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dariush
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dariush
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dariush

Round 3
Ferguson’s leg is severely compromised from the heel hook, and he tries to use his tricky movement but does not have his wheels about him. Dariush walks through any strikes to grab hold of Ferguson, and “El Cucuy” latches on to a guillotine choke. Dariush lifts him up and slams him down, where he breaks the grip and gains an advantageous position. The two end up in a north-south position as Ferguson kicks off the fence, but Dariush expertly traverses the guard to try to get side control. The crowd chants “stand them up,” and these chants echo through the Toyota Center, Beltran asks the fighters to keep moving. Dariush pulls on his adversary to try to get Ferguson’s legs away from the cage, and the two are in a grappling stalemate with no strikes thrown of any kind. Dariush grinds his elbow on Ferguson’s chin, and Ferguson holds on tight but is not doing anything of note either. This odd north-south posture continues as fans grow more restless, and Dariush hops over to side control. Ferguson looks to set up an arm-triangle choke from his back like Maurice Greene pulled off on Gian Villante, but Dariush breaks the grip and hops over on top. Ferguson rolls through and the two get back to their north-south with Ferguson’s feet on the cage, and Dariush spins through to try to land strikes. Ferguson closes his guard and Dariush lands a few short punches to the body. Dariush finishes the fight with a few punches from above, and Ferguson answers with elbows to end this disappointing yet one-sided lightweight clash.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dariush (30-27 Dariush)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dariush (30-27 Dariush)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dariush (30-27 Dariush)

The Official Result
Beneil Dariush def. Tony Ferguson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 11, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Ferguson has taken massive damage and looks diminished. Dariush is a BJJ black belt with good striking and takedowns. He can implement a similar game plan to Oliveira: take Ferguson down and control him. Ferguson is tough to finish, so I expect a decision win for Dariush.

"I'll take minil daryush i'm gonna say he wins by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 12, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Cody also picks Dariush, emphasizing Ferguson's decline and poor game plans. He notes that Ferguson's wins are aging and he hasn't knocked anyone out in years. Cody believes Dariush is a thinking man's fighter who will use takedowns and top control to win. He points out that Ferguson's takedown defense is weak and his submission game is not a threat from the bottom. Cody expects Dariush to win the first round and then secure a decision.

Live betting: back Ferguson after the first round if he drops it. Monkey Knife Fight: double over on significant strikes.
"i'm going to go with daniel daryush and uh neil darius by decision due to the takedowns that'll be the difference"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 13, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Daniel Levi picks Beneil Dariush, emphasizing Ferguson's decline since his knee injury and the Gaethje fight. He notes Dariush's six-fight win streak, knockout power, and jiu-jitsu credentials, and believes Dariush can mix takedowns and avoid submissions. Levi is concerned about Dariush's tendency to leave openings and gas, but thinks Ferguson's durability and chin have diminished. He expects Dariush to dominate and win via decision or late stoppage.

mentions Dariush's chin and gas tank as concerns, but still picks him
"i'm going to go with neil daryus to get this one done here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked May 13, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The host picks Dariush but is not confident, noting Ferguson's chaotic style could cause problems. He thinks Dariush should have a grappling advantage and grind out a decision, but worries about Ferguson's ability to create volatility. He says he is not running to the betting window on Dariush.

Dariush by decision
"ultimately i will go with neil i'll go with him to win this fight and grind this fight out by decision but i'm not right right run into the to the betting window to bed darry you share"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 12, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Paul picks Dariush, citing Ferguson's decline. He notes that Ferguson has lost to elite guys and looked abysmal in his last two fights. Paul believes Dariush's wrestling and game planning will be key, as he can take Ferguson down and neutralize him, similar to what Oliveira did. He mentions that Ferguson's takedown defense is poor and his submission game is not a threat from the bottom. Paul expects Dariush to win by decision, using takedowns to control the fight.

Live betting opportunity: back Ferguson after the first round if he drops it. Monkey Knife Fight: double over on significant strikes (48.5 for Dariush, 38.5 for Ferguson).
"i'm going to go with daniel daryush and uh neil darius by decision due to the takedowns that'll be the difference"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 9, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The MMA Guru picks Beneil Dariush over Tony Ferguson, citing Ferguson's age and recent decline. He notes that Ferguson's wins are aging poorly and that Dariush thrives under chaos, which is key against Ferguson. He predicts Dariush will control the fight with grappling and win a unanimous decision 29-28.

"i'm going with benildaryushman"
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov · Feb 06, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 0 54 of 121 44% 74 of 145 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:58
Carlos Diego Ferreira 0 62 of 116 53% 74 of 132 5 of 15 33% 0 0 7:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 21 of 39 53% 24 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Carlos Diego Ferreira 0 29 of 51 56% 32 of 54 1 of 4 25% 0 0 3:06
2 Beneil Dariush 0 14 of 24 58% 30 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Carlos Diego Ferreira 0 10 of 22 45% 18 of 34 3 of 5 60% 0 0 3:37
3 Beneil Dariush 0 19 of 58 32% 20 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:36
Carlos Diego Ferreira 0 23 of 43 53% 24 of 44 1 of 6 16% 0 0 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 54 of 121 44% 43 of 104 10 of 15 1 of 2 45 of 109 5 of 5 4 of 7
Carlos Diego Ferreira 62 of 116 53% 46 of 98 10 of 12 6 of 6 51 of 93 3 of 5 8 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 21 of 39 53% 17 of 32 4 of 6 0 of 1 19 of 37 2 of 2 0 of 0
Carlos Diego Ferreira 29 of 51 56% 24 of 46 3 of 3 2 of 2 22 of 38 0 of 2 7 of 11
2 Beneil Dariush 14 of 24 58% 10 of 20 4 of 4 0 of 0 10 of 19 3 of 3 1 of 2
Carlos Diego Ferreira 10 of 22 45% 7 of 17 1 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 12 3 of 3 1 of 7
3 Beneil Dariush 19 of 58 32% 16 of 52 2 of 5 1 of 1 16 of 53 0 of 0 3 of 5
Carlos Diego Ferreira 23 of 43 53% 15 of 35 6 of 6 2 of 2 23 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Carlos Diego Ferreira

Big Brady slightly edges Carlos Diego Ferreira, citing his durability and output advantage. He notes that Dariush has been knocked out three times and Ferreira is not a knockout artist, but Ferreira's volume could be key. He expects a very close decision and admits it's a coin-flip fight.

"I'm going to slightly edge Ferreira to get it done, I'm going to say by a very close decision."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Daniel Levi picks Beneil Dariush, noting his wrestling and top control advantage. He acknowledges Ferreira's improved boxing and footwork, but believes Dariush's grappling and ability to avoid submissions will be key. He mentions Dariush's past win over Ferreira and his experience against high-level grapplers.

"i'm gonna go with benil here via decision i think he can mix in takedowns avoid the submission"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Carlos Diego Ferreira

Ferreira has transformed his game since joining Fortis MMA, showing improved striking, pace, and pressure. He averages 283 strikes thrown per fight and has great cardio. His takedown defense has improved, and he gets back to his feet quickly. Dariush has been in firefights recently and may struggle with Ferreira's constant forward pressure. Ferreira's durability and chin are solid. I expect Ferreira to push the pace, outwork Dariush, and win a decision. The line is fair and Ferreira is the better fighter now.

Ferreira by decision
"i like diego feje here i like him roughly around that even money we got minus -125 i think that's a solid line too"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jan 30, 2021 (7 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The MMA Guru picks Beneil Dariush in a close fight, noting the odds should be 50-50. He praises Dariush's youth, activity, and improving stand-up, citing his performance against Edson Barboza. He questions Ferreira's wins over aging opponents and thinks Dariush's grappling will keep him safe. He predicts a 29-28 unanimous decision.

unanimous decision 29-28
"i'm gonna go with benildarius i feel like okay and that is very on the spot because this is a very even bout"
Renato Moicano - Fight History
WIN vs Chris Duncan
Submission R2 3:14 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan · Apr 04, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Renato Moicano 0 21 of 36 58% 62 of 84 1 of 4 25% 1 0 3:16
Chris Duncan 0 27 of 62 43% 30 of 66 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Renato Moicano 0 14 of 20 70% 16 of 22 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:13
Chris Duncan 0 17 of 38 44% 19 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:01
2 Renato Moicano 0 7 of 16 43% 46 of 62 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:03
Chris Duncan 0 10 of 24 41% 11 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Renato Moicano 21 of 36 58% 16 of 31 4 of 4 1 of 1 20 of 34 1 of 1 0 of 1
Chris Duncan 27 of 62 43% 8 of 39 5 of 7 14 of 16 25 of 60 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Renato Moicano 14 of 20 70% 10 of 16 3 of 3 1 of 1 13 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Chris Duncan 17 of 38 44% 3 of 22 3 of 3 11 of 13 15 of 36 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Renato Moicano 7 of 16 43% 6 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 1
Chris Duncan 10 of 24 41% 5 of 17 2 of 4 3 of 3 10 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 29, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

Angelo picks Chris Duncan, noting his durability and never-quit attitude. He acknowledges Moicano is more technical and experienced but believes Moicano is old and used up. He points out that Duncan has a history of winning fights he's not supposed to and that Moicano's recent focus may not be enough. Angelo has no bet on this fight.

"Chris Duncan is going to be the pick. I think Moano is a little too old and used up at this point."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

Big Brady picks Chris Duncan to win by third-round knockout. He notes that Moicano is dangerous in the first round but fades after that, citing the Dariush fight where Moicano did nothing in the last 10 minutes. He believes Duncan has better cardio, durability, and power, and that his takedown defense has improved since the Manuel Torres loss. He expects Duncan to drop the first round but take over and eventually knock out Moicano.

Duncan by KO in round 3
"I'm going to take Chris Duncan to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by third round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

Cody picks Duncan due to his momentum, youth, and ability to take over in later rounds. He notes Moicano's losing streak and potential lack of focus, but acknowledges the fight could be competitive early. He expects Duncan's superior striking and work rate to secure a win.

"Personally, I'm going to end up going Duncan just being that he's the younger guy. He's got a whole lot of momentum right now."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)

The host finds it difficult to bet pre-fight. He notes Duncan is easy to take down, which plays into Moicano's strength, but Moicano's chin and cardio are questionable in a five-round fight. He sees value on neither side and will watch for live betting. He also notes the odds for 'fight doesn't go to decision' are terrible.

Odds for fight not to go to decision are terrible, so no bet.
"So for me, it's a very difficult for a pre-fight bet. And I'll probably give this one a miss pre-fight. Um, difficult fight to pre-fight. Hopefully we can live bet it."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

Lucrative James picks Chris Duncan to win, citing his durability and power advantage over Moicano. He believes Duncan's momentum and shorter camp have him in peak form, and he predicts a fourth-round TKO finish. James also notes that Duncan's confidence is high from training with Moicano and seeing his own improvement.

Fourth round TKO
"I definitely think you got a durability advantage here. I think you got a power advantage. So, those two put together."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

James is rooting for his friend Chris Duncan and has released a full breakdown video with him. He mentions Chris is his friend and he will be rooting for him against Moicano, indicating a clear pick for Duncan.

"I'm definitely going to be rooting for him against Moicano this week"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

Lucrative James picks Chris Duncan to win, citing Duncan's upward trajectory, age advantage (32 vs 36), superior cardio, durability, and will to win. He notes Moicano's possible decline due to outside interests and a longer camp. James expects a war but believes Duncan's physicality and recoverability will carry him, especially in later rounds. He mentions Duncan's power and takedown defense as key factors, though he acknowledges Moicano's early speed and submission threat. James states he won't bet publicly due to friendship bias but will have 'beer money' on Duncan.

No public bet; beer money on Duncan moneyline
"I'm picking Chris to win this one. I think it's going to be a good fight. I think it's going to be another war, honestly."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 31, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

The host expects Duncan to counter Moicano effectively, showcase good grappling defense, and eventually break Moicano for a finish inside the distance. He notes Moicano's recent struggles, poor durability, and questionable gas tank, while Duncan is on a four-fight winning streak with evolving skills. The host predicts a second-round TKO or submission for Duncan.

under 2.5 rounds at -125
"I look for Duncan to counter Moano effectively... I think at a certain point within 10 maybe 12 and a half minutes we will see one of these guys get a finish. And I'm expecting it to be the Scott …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Chris Duncan

Paul leans towards Duncan, citing that Moicano struggles when outwrestled. He expects Duncan to use takedowns and control to win, though he's not heavily invested and plans to live bet.

"Duncan minus 170. Um, it's how I'd play it if I were to click the button right now."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)
Chris Duncan

The MMA Guru picks Chris Duncan, admitting he has doubted him before but is now convinced. He believes Duncan's durability, grit, and damage output will overcome Moicano, especially if the fight gets scrappy. He notes Moicano hasn't looked himself and that Duncan has good submission defense. He predicts a third-round TKO.

Third-round TKO predicted
"I'm taking Duncan to win. I'm done doubting him. I'm done doubting Dunk."
LOSS vs Beneil Dariush
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira · Jun 28, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Beneil Dariush 0 56 of 107 52% 77 of 131 5 of 5 100% 0 0 5:53
Renato Moicano 1 31 of 61 50% 38 of 69 0 of 3 0% 0 1 1:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Beneil Dariush 0 22 of 46 47% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Renato Moicano 1 22 of 42 52% 25 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
2 Beneil Dariush 0 8 of 14 57% 28 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:46
Renato Moicano 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Beneil Dariush 0 26 of 47 55% 27 of 48 3 of 3 100% 0 0 1:07
Renato Moicano 0 8 of 17 47% 10 of 20 0 of 2 0% 0 1 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Beneil Dariush 56 of 107 52% 30 of 73 10 of 15 16 of 19 47 of 95 4 of 5 5 of 7
Renato Moicano 31 of 61 50% 25 of 52 4 of 6 2 of 3 25 of 54 4 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Beneil Dariush 22 of 46 47% 9 of 28 3 of 6 10 of 12 22 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Renato Moicano 22 of 42 52% 16 of 33 4 of 6 2 of 3 16 of 35 4 of 5 2 of 2
2 Beneil Dariush 8 of 14 57% 8 of 13 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 1 5 of 7
Renato Moicano 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Beneil Dariush 26 of 47 55% 13 of 32 7 of 8 6 of 7 22 of 43 4 of 4 0 of 0
Renato Moicano 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Angelo picks Beneil Dariush because he believes Dariush's grappling and striking are a good matchup against Renato Moicano, who he thinks is too busy with outside commitments to be fully focused. He notes that Dariush is a BJJ world champion and a powerful striker, and he doesn't see Moicano out-grappling him. He also points out that Moicano's takedowns are not clean and he often clinches, while Dariush has shown incredible scrambles against top competition.

Angelo calls Dariush a 'phenomenal underdog' and implies value.
"I'm going to stick with what I did the first time, and that's pick Beneil Dariush. And I'm even more confident now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Big Brady likes the stylistic matchup for Dariush, who has elite takedown defense and is the better striker with more power. However, he is worried about Dariush coming off back-to-back knockout losses, his age, and potential chin issues. He thinks Moicano doesn't have knockout power but could still hurt Dariush. Brady predicts Dariush will win by knockout, but he is not confident due to the layoff and durability concerns.

Dariush wins by second round knockout
"I'm going to go Benel Derush by knockout. I don't feel amazing about it."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Connor picks Dariush but is not confident. He notes that Moicano has never knocked anyone out standing, so Dariush can survive on the feet. He believes Dariush's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Moicano's confidence can waver when things go wrong. However, he acknowledges that Moicano's lightweight run has been unpredictable and that Dariush has been knocked out brutally before.

"I think he's going to beat Hanata Moikano. Moikano is just not that dangerous a striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The host is surprised Moicano is the favorite, believing Dariush's durability and grappling defense will shut down Moicano's approach. He predicts Dariush will land big shots and finish inside the distance, likely by TKO or submission within two and a half rounds.

inside the distance, TKO or submission, within two and a half rounds
"I really like Darius to shut down the grappling game of Moano then land some big shots of his own to eventually put Moano out probably by TKO maybe club and sub but either way I think Darush gets it …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The host picks Renato Moicano by decision, citing Dariush's long layoff and recent KO losses. He believes Moicano's grappling and striking have improved, and that he will start fast and set the tone. He expects a competitive fight but sees Moicano winning a 29-28 decision.

decision
"I'm taking Hanato Moano by decision here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Zane also picks Dariush but is hesitant. He agrees that Moicano is not a dangerous striker and that Dariush can likely outgrapple him. He notes that Dariush has fought and beaten good grapplers before. However, he acknowledges that Moicano's run has been strange and that he has a tendency to find ways to win even when losing.

"I think I'll take Daryu's too, but I do not feel confident."
LOSS vs Islam Makhachev
Submission (brabo choke) R1 4:05 · UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano · Jan 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Islam Makhachev 0 6 of 19 31% 18 of 31 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:27
Renato Moicano 0 9 of 27 33% 18 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Islam Makhachev 0 6 of 19 31% 18 of 31 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:27
Renato Moicano 0 9 of 27 33% 18 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Islam Makhachev 6 of 19 31% 5 of 17 1 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Renato Moicano 9 of 27 33% 2 of 18 3 of 5 4 of 4 9 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Islam Makhachev 6 of 19 31% 5 of 17 1 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Renato Moicano 9 of 27 33% 2 of 18 3 of 5 4 of 4 9 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 12, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

Angelo picks Islam Makhachev, noting his improvements in striking and his wrestling dominance. He acknowledges Arman Tsarukyan's takedown of Makhachev in their first fight but believes Makhachev's size, cardio, and overall game will prevail. He mentions Tsarukyan's chin being questionable after being dropped by a 40-year-old Silva.

"I think he wins here I think he gets it done I think the wrestling will be there I think the Striking is going to be better than armen's"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

Cody picks Islam Makhachev to retain, citing Islam's championship experience, improved wrestling, and ability to handle five rounds. He notes that Arman Tsarukyan has improved but still relies heavily on wrestling and tends to tire in later rounds. Cody also mentions that Islam has already beaten Tsarukyan once and has only gotten better since. He suggests a live bet strategy or a small hedge on Tsarukyan if the parlay is still alive.

Live bet strategy: if Makhachev wins first round, cash; if loses, get better live price. Also mentions hedging with Tsarukyan if parlay is alive.
"I expect michev to win the longer it goes but if he can win the first round oh we're money if he loses the first round you could get a better live price on it in the betting Market"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

Connor picks Islam Makhachev to win, citing his superior poise, technical striking, and defensive wrestling. He notes that Makhachev has become one of the best strikers in the division with a calm, principled approach, while Arman still fights with tension and wastes energy. Connor emphasizes that Makhachev's ability to stay relaxed and make good decisions under pressure gives him a clear edge, especially given their first fight where Makhachev outlasted Arman. He acknowledges Arman's improvements in finishing ability but believes Makhachev's overall game has grown more.

Odds opened at -336, now -366; Arman opened +278, now +299. Connor thinks the line is too wide but is confident in Makhachev.
"I think we're both warming ourselves up here for the eventual we're picking Islam Makhachev to win the match."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Daniel picks Moicano as a significant underdog, citing that Makhachev's days at 155 are numbered and he is looking to move up to 170. He notes that Makhachev has shown vulnerability in recent fights, with Dustin Poirier stuffing 11 takedowns and Volkanovski stuffing 5. Daniel believes Moicano can match Makhachev's wrestling and has dangerous kicks and knockout power, as seen against Benoit Saint-Denis. He also mentions the location in Los Angeles with a large Armenian population as a motivating factor for Moicano.

Daniel took Moicano at +305 and says he would take him at +300 against any 155-pounder. He mentions the fight being in LA with a large Armenian population as a factor.
"I would take plus 300 on him against anybody I mean right now that's how good of a fighter he is so it's definitely a doger pass situation"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jan 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

Lucrative James picks Islam Makhachev to win, citing his superior striking improvements against top competition like Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski, and Charles Oliveira. He expects the fight to feature more striking than their first bout, where Arman Tsarukyan was hesitant. James notes Islam's experience in five-round fights and counter-wrestling as key advantages, but acknowledges Arman's improved striking and power as potential threats. He mentions Islam's chin as a vulnerability, having been wobbled before, but ultimately believes Islam's overall skill set and prime condition will prevail.

Arman Tsarukyan at +310 is worth a one-unit shot for value
"I ultimately think Islam makev is going to come out with the win I think there's value in Arman surin's price tag at plus 310 he may be worth a one unit shot for me"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Islam Makhachev

The host acknowledges Tsarukyan has improved since their first fight and his power striking could cause issues. However, he believes Makhachev will create grappling opportunities and squeeze out a decision victory. He likes the fight to go to decision and does not like the heavy chalk on Makhachev but still expects him to win.

fight goes to decision
"I think makev will create grappling opportunities that he will be able to come out ahead on it might be grindy it might be slow it might not be the most entertaining but I think makev will squeeze his way …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

Paul agrees with Cody that Islam Makhachev will retain, noting that Islam has learned from the first fight and has a better understanding of Tsarukyan's style. He acknowledges Tsarukyan's knockout potential but believes Islam's experience and preparation will prevail. Paul also points out that Islam is a rightful favorite and a parlay piece for him this week.

Mentions Tsarukyan by knockout at +600 or +700 as a possible shot, but not banking on it.
"I think Islam retains as well minus 3557 at cool but is the best number on Market uh that I can see right now as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

The MMA Guru picks Islam Makhachev to win a close decision. He argues that Arman Tsarukyan cannot finish Makhachev and is unlikely to win a decision due to Makhachev's status. He notes Makhachev's clinch work and body knees are key weapons, and he expects Makhachev to win 3-2 or 4-1 on the scorecards. He also mentions that Tsarukyan's low kicks are not as effective as he remembered.

decision
"mlam makev will win I think he'll win a close decision I think it'll be razor close"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Islam Makhachev

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Makhachev. He highlights Makhachev's unflappable poise and technical striking, contrasting it with Arman's all-or-nothing style that led to his loss in the first fight. Zane notes that Makhachev has improved significantly since then, becoming a more complete fighter, while Arman still tends to expend energy recklessly. He also points out that Makhachev's southpaw stance could trouble Arman, who hasn't looked great against southpaws. Zane acknowledges Arman's increased violence and finishing ability but believes Makhachev's calmness and defensive skills will prevail.

Same odds commentary as Connor.
"I think we're both warming ourselves up here for the eventual we're picking Islam Makhachev to win the match."
TKO (doctor stoppage) R2 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis · Sep 28, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Renato Moicano 0 50 of 72 69% 72 of 98 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:53
Benoît Saint Denis 0 25 of 60 41% 35 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Renato Moicano 0 35 of 40 87% 57 of 66 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:37
Benoît Saint Denis 0 4 of 5 80% 12 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Renato Moicano 0 15 of 32 46% 15 of 32 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:16
Benoît Saint Denis 0 21 of 55 38% 23 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Renato Moicano 50 of 72 69% 46 of 66 0 of 1 4 of 5 17 of 35 0 of 1 33 of 36
Benoît Saint Denis 25 of 60 41% 13 of 44 10 of 14 2 of 2 25 of 60 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Renato Moicano 35 of 40 87% 34 of 38 0 of 0 1 of 2 2 of 4 0 of 0 33 of 36
Benoît Saint Denis 4 of 5 80% 0 of 0 3 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Renato Moicano 15 of 32 46% 12 of 28 0 of 1 3 of 3 15 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
Benoît Saint Denis 21 of 55 38% 13 of 44 7 of 10 1 of 1 21 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 22, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Angelo picks Benoît Saint Denis, believing his all-gas-no-brakes pressure and grappling will be too much for Moicano. He notes that Moicano has a shaky chin and is not dangerous enough to stop Saint Denis's forward pressure. He references Saint Denis's dominant first round against Dustin Poirier, suggesting that same level of pressure will overwhelm Moicano. He dismisses the staph infection excuse as a potential factor but leans toward Saint Denis's performance being legitimate.

"Benoît Saint Denis is the pick... what he did to Dustin in the first five minutes, that's all he'll need here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Big Brady picks Benoît Saint Denis by first-round knockout, describing him as a beast who pushes a crazy pace with power in his hands and body kicks. He notes Moicano's chin has always been an issue and Saint Denis will bring a car crash that Moicano won't survive. He expects an early finish.

Saint Denis by first round knockout
"I'm taking V Stony I'll say I'll say first round knockout for for Stony there"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Cody picks Benoît Saint Denis as his cash game play, citing his elite fantasy scoring in wins (109, 149, 115, 136, 105) and his aggression and wrestling ability. He notes that Saint Denis is a heavy favorite at minus 300 and has a minus 200 line to win inside the distance. Cody acknowledges that Moicano is a better technical fighter and could be a valuable tournament target, but Moicano's durability issues make Saint Denis the safer cash game pick.

win inside the distance (-200)
"I'm going to give you my favorite cash game play... it's going to be Benoît Saint Denis at 9k... he's also minus 200 to win inside the distance here."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Cody believes BSD is a legitimate future title challenger with relentless pressure, top-notch grappling, and physicality. He excuses BSD's loss to Dustin Poirier due to a staph infection and thinks a healthy BSD would have won. He sees Moicano's questionable chin and cardio as vulnerabilities, and expects BSD to overwhelm him with pace and aggression.

"I think BSD gets back on track here... benwell St Den KN is just too much of like a dog on the bone"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Connor picks Saint Denis because he believes Saint Denis's relentless pressure and physicality will overwhelm Moicano, who often gets hurt early and relies on wrestling to recover. He notes that Saint Denis is a strong scrambler and has never been held down, making Moicano's path to victory difficult. Connor acknowledges that Moicano could win if he survives the early onslaught, but he doubts Moicano can consistently find his grappling outlet against Saint Denis's pace.

Odds: Saint Denis -284, Moicano +239. Connor mentions the odds are reasonable but notes there's a chance Saint Denis gets checked in the future.
"My impulse is still to pick Santini."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Daniel Vreeland picks Benoît Saint Denis to win by TKO. He believes BSD's pressure, power, and body kicks will be too much for Moicano, who has poor striking defense and a questionable chin. He notes that Moicano is tough and has good grappling, but BSD's wrestling and ground-and-pound should secure the finish. He also mentions that the price is high at -270, but sees value in the KO prop at plus money.

wins by TKO/KO
"I'm going to predict him to win by by TKO"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

JP picks Benoît Saint Denis because he thinks Saint Denis is a problem with power and toughness. He notes Saint Denis was beating Dustin Poirier before getting clipped, and he had a staph infection in that fight. He thinks Moicano gets hit too much and doesn't have the power to put Saint Denis away. He also mentions the fight is in France, which could favor the French fighter in a close decision.

"I got to go Beno dude I think Ben W is an issue if I'm wrong that's fine cuz I'm happy and hanato goes I'm taking Ben wall"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Paul agrees with Cody, highlighting BSD's aggressive style, takedown ability, and durability. He notes that Moicano's path to victory via submission is unlikely against BSD's grappling. Paul also points out that Moicano's low output and cardio issues make him vulnerable in a five-round fight, especially in front of a French crowd.

"I think he beats moono all day five round fight maybe a little bit dice here but... I got Ben St denque minus 270"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The MMA Guru picks Renato Moicano over Benoît Saint Denis, emphasizing Moicano's underrated Jiu-Jitsu and significant experience advantage (9 years more as a pro). He notes Saint Denis' tendency to kick up and expose his back, which Moicano can exploit with body locks and back takes. He predicts a third-round submission via rear-naked choke after ground and pound.

third round rear-naked choke
"I'm going to go with hanato moano by third round finish I'm going to go third round finish for hanato moano"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Benoît Saint Denis

Zane picks Saint Denis because he believes Saint Denis's constant pressure and pace will be too much for Moicano, who often gets hurt early and struggles to recover against relentless fighters. He notes that Moicano's best wins have come against grapplers who allow him to slow the fight down, but Saint Denis never stops coming. Zane also points out that Moicano's path to victory relies on surviving the early storm and then outworking Saint Denis, which he considers unlikely given Saint Denis's cardio and durability.

Odds: Saint Denis -284, Moicano +239. Zane mentions the odds are reasonable.
"I got to go with Santini just because like I say, if the dynamic for Santini is he's going to bull, bull forward and do everything all the time..."
WIN vs Jalin Turner
TKO (elbows and punches) R2 4:11 · UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill · Apr 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Renato Moicano 1 16 of 40 40% 16 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Jalin Turner 0 36 of 67 53% 87 of 128 2 of 6 33% 0 0 5:50
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Renato Moicano 1 9 of 25 36% 9 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Jalin Turner 0 8 of 16 50% 32 of 45 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:52
2 Renato Moicano 0 7 of 15 46% 7 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jalin Turner 0 28 of 51 54% 55 of 83 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:58
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Renato Moicano 16 of 40 40% 10 of 32 3 of 5 3 of 3 15 of 39 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jalin Turner 36 of 67 53% 32 of 60 3 of 5 1 of 2 11 of 23 1 of 1 24 of 43
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Renato Moicano 9 of 25 36% 4 of 18 2 of 4 3 of 3 9 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jalin Turner 8 of 16 50% 6 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 1 4 of 11 0 of 0 4 of 5
2 Renato Moicano 7 of 15 46% 6 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jalin Turner 28 of 51 54% 26 of 47 1 of 3 1 of 1 7 of 12 1 of 1 20 of 38
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Jalin Turner

Angelo is confident in Jalin Turner, citing his phenomenal striking, length, and takedown defense. He notes Moicano's BJJ is dangerous but Turner should piece him up and potentially finish. He mentions Turner has never won a decision, so a finish is likely.

"Jaylen Turner is going to be the pick I am pretty confident in him"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Jalin Turner

Cody is high on Turner's potential. He notes Turner's length (6'3", 77-inch reach), solid takedown defense (75%), and nasty power. Moicano lacks volume and offensive wrestling; his wins often come by quick submission or low-volume decisions. Cody points out that Moicano was a 145er and Turner is a big lightweight who could even be a middleweight. He believes Turner's power and reach will be too much, and he expects a finish, possibly a first-round knockout. Cody mentions Turner's cardio issues in past fights but thinks Moicano doesn't have the pressure to exploit them.

"Sign me up for Turner to get the Finish."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Jalin Turner

Connor picks Turner, emphasizing that Moicano's counter-punching and wrestling will not be enough. He notes that Turner is difficult to take down and works well from his back, while Moicano's confidence often breaks when pressured. Connor believes Turner's reach and power will be too much for Moicano to handle over three rounds.

Odds: Turner opened -244, now -230; Moicano opened +185, now +201. Connor mentions the line movement.
"I just think, yeah, I think so. Moikana is not going to have the ability to, he might win a round just on back control or something like that. Yeah, but it's hard to see him really shifting the whole …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Jalin Turner

Daniel Vreeland picks Jalin Turner, citing his improved striking, range management, and takedown defense. He believes Turner's power and length will be too much for Moicano, and that Turner will knock him out. Vreeland notes Moicano's submission threat but doubts his chin can hold up.

wins by KO/TKO
"I think Turner is gonna find a way to land that straight on the button so I'm going Jalin Turner here probably by knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Renato Moicano

Turner has a striking advantage and power, but Moicano will grab a body lock and drag the fight to the ground. Moicano's BJJ will reign supreme, opening a back take opportunity for a rear-naked choke submission. Moicano pulls off the upset as a +195 underdog.

submission, underdog +195
"I think that will see moano grab that body lock and eventually drag this fight to the ground whereas BJJ should be able to remain reign supreme and I think that will open up a back take opportunity where he …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Jalin Turner

Paul agrees, noting Moicano's last performance against Drew Dober was a problem—he got a takedown in round three but did little with it. Paul points out that Moicano's wrestling should have dominated Dober but didn't. He also mentions Turner is a big lightweight, while Moicano moved up from 145. Paul thinks Turner's power will be decisive and expects a finish, possibly a first-round knockout. He notes that Moicano's cardio wasn't great in the Dober fight either.

"I'm with you 100%... Turner is a guy that we like."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The MMA Guru picks Renato Moicano to submit Jalin Turner via rear-naked choke in round one. He notes that Moicano has submission ability and that Turner has been taken down and controlled by grapplers like Mateusz Gamrot. He believes Moicano will find Turner's hips, take his back, and sink in the choke.

rear-naked choke round one
"re could choke round one put your money down this re naked choke round one."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Jalin Turner

Zane picks Turner confidently, despite disliking his style. He notes that Turner's reach and power make him dangerous early, and Moicano is hittable and prone to losing confidence. Zane argues that Moicano's clinch wrestling will not work against Turner's size and defensive grappling. He expects Turner to knock Moicano out early or win a decision.

Odds: Turner opened -244, now -230; Moicano opened +185, now +201. Zane mentions the line movement.
"I honestly think Moikana might get knocked out pretty early in this fight. Two hittable turners, too, too powerful, too aggressive early."
WIN vs Drew Dober
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov · Feb 03, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Renato Moicano 0 23 of 42 54% 142 of 177 3 of 6 50% 0 0 10:33
Drew Dober 0 23 of 59 38% 36 of 73 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Renato Moicano 0 6 of 12 50% 43 of 54 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:48
Drew Dober 0 6 of 20 30% 7 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
2 Renato Moicano 0 2 of 5 40% 34 of 42 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:19
Drew Dober 0 6 of 13 46% 17 of 25 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:01
3 Renato Moicano 0 15 of 25 60% 65 of 81 0 of 1 0% 0 0 3:26
Drew Dober 0 11 of 26 42% 12 of 27 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Renato Moicano 23 of 42 54% 20 of 39 2 of 2 1 of 1 10 of 27 1 of 2 12 of 13
Drew Dober 23 of 59 38% 17 of 50 4 of 7 2 of 2 19 of 52 1 of 1 3 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Renato Moicano 6 of 12 50% 5 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 10 0 of 0 2 of 2
Drew Dober 6 of 20 30% 5 of 17 1 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Renato Moicano 2 of 5 40% 1 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 1
Drew Dober 6 of 13 46% 5 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 6 1 of 1 3 of 6
3 Renato Moicano 15 of 25 60% 14 of 24 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 15 0 of 0 9 of 10
Drew Dober 11 of 26 42% 7 of 21 2 of 3 2 of 2 11 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Drew Dober

Angelo picks Drew Dober, trusting his chin and brawling ability. He notes that Moicano is chinny and hasn't fought in a year. He believes Dober can bait Moicano into a firefight and knock him out. He has a half-unit bet on Dober at +125.

Half-unit bet at +125
"Drew Dober is going to be the pick I do have a half a unit bet on him at plus 125"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Big Brady picks Renato Moicano to win by first-round submission. He notes that Moicano has a huge advantage on the ground, and Dober has been submitted multiple times. However, Moicano sometimes falls in love with striking, which would be dangerous against Dober's power. Brady thinks Moicano will take Dober down and submit him, but acknowledges it's a 50-50 fight.

first round, submission
"give me my Conor to win this fight I'll take him to win this fight by first round sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Cody picks Moicano, citing Dober's declining durability and Moicano's superior grappling and angles. He notes Dober's chin is fading after the Fialho knockout, and Moicano can set up takedowns with his jab. He sees Moicano by submission as a strong prop.

Moicano by submission +200
"moano by submission plus 200 was a good look"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jan 29, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Moicano has a tremendous BJJ black belt and should be able to drag Dober to the ground and sink in a rear naked choke. However, the host is hesitant due to Moicano's long layoff and knee surgery at 34 years old. Dober has power and good cardio, but is at a skill disadvantage on the ground. The host expects the fight not to go to decision, with Moicano winning by submission.

Fight doesn't go to decision is mentioned as a chalky play.
"I think it's going to be moano who ends up sinking in the choke and getting that rear naked choke Victory."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Moicano. He highlights Dober's reckless pressure and suspect takedown defense, while Moicano's jab and movement should set up takedowns. He notes Moicano's losses are to elite fighters, and Dober has never been at that level.

"I think it's kind of against him here minus one 5 is not a terrible price tag on hanato Mako"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Drew Dober

The MMA Guru picks Drew Dober over Renato Moicano, predicting a TKO. He cites Moicano's long layoff since November 2022 due to a leg injury, and doubts he will look his best. He believes Dober has more power on the feet and has impressive wins over Terrance McKinney, Rafael Alves, and Bobby Green. He thinks Moicano will struggle to take Dober down and that Dober will catch him with his hands down, Korean Zombie style.

TKO
"I am going to go with Drew Dober here... I am going to go with Drew Dober getting this one done by TKO at some point."
WIN vs Brad Riddell
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:20 · UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira · Nov 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Renato Moicano 0 14 of 25 56% 14 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
Brad Riddell 0 10 of 33 30% 11 of 35 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Renato Moicano 0 14 of 25 56% 14 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
Brad Riddell 0 10 of 33 30% 11 of 35 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Renato Moicano 14 of 25 56% 6 of 16 6 of 7 2 of 2 14 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Riddell 10 of 33 30% 10 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 1 10 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Renato Moicano 14 of 25 56% 6 of 16 6 of 7 2 of 2 14 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Riddell 10 of 33 30% 10 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 1 10 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Brad Riddell

Angelo believes Riddell is the better striker and expects the fight to stay standing. He notes that Moicano's losses are mostly to strikers who out-struck him, and his chin is questionable. He thinks Riddell can mix in takedowns if needed and protect his neck. He will wait for props to drop before betting.

"I think Brad is the just definitely the better Striker I think he's going to win this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Big Brady picks Renato Moicano to win by submission. He notes Moicano's height and reach advantage, and that his ground game is excellent with many submissions. He believes Moicano will take the fight to the mat, where he has a clear advantage. He points out Riddell's 62% takedown defense and that he has been finished before (by Jalin Turner and Rafael Fiziev). He trusts Moicano to wrestle and get the submission.

Moicano by submission
"I like mokana to win here I like him to take it down to the mat I like him to be competitive on the feet but you know once he does hit the mat I mean this guy's ground game …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Brad Riddell

Cody picks Brad Riddell by decision, but is not confident. He notes that Riddell at his best wins this fight as the better striker with good takedown defense, but he has concerns about Riddell's recent performances, including being gun-shy against Fiziev and getting submitted by Turner. Cody thinks Riddell's confidence may be an issue, but he still sees a path to victory by staying at range and countering.

"The official pick for me is going to be Brad Riddell Brad Riddell by decision I just don't love it."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Brad Riddell

Connor picks Brad Riddell because Riddell's counter-punching style and ability to gather data over the course of a fight make him more reliable. He notes that Moicano has shown a tendency to shut down when hurt, as seen in the Alex Hernandez fight, and that Riddell consistently improves round to round. Connor also mentions that Moicano's submission threats are unlikely to work against Riddell, who has never been submitted.

Surprised Moicano is a favorite; thinks Riddell should be favored.
"I'm going to pick Brad Riddell, but I think it's a very interesting matchup..."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Brad Riddell

Daniel Levi leans toward Brad Riddell as a slight underdog, believing Riddell's kickboxing combinations can exploit Moicano's tall-man's defense and chin. He notes that Moicano has been clipped before and that Riddell's striking is more technical and powerful. However, he is worried about Moicano's back-taking ability and submissions if the fight goes to the ground. Levi thinks the line should be flipped with Riddell as a slight favorite, and he is considering a bet at plus money.

Possible bet on Riddell at +105; odds mentioned: Moicano -125, Riddell +105 at DraftKings
"I'm gonna go with Browder Delta get back on track here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Brad Riddell

The host expects violence and an early finish, likely by Riddell via KO. He notes Moicano's early submission threat but believes Riddell's takedown defense and striking advantage will prevail as the fight goes on. He prefers the under 2.5 rounds at -110 over betting Riddell's moneyline, expecting a finish from Riddell's power.

under 2.5 rounds (-110)
"I do lean Brad rodel I think he is the better Striker... but rather than taking the plus 105 on him I'd rather just take that near even money under two and a half"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Paul picks Moicano, noting that Riddell leans on his wrestling when things get shaky, which could be a recipe for disaster against Moicano's grappling. He is impressed by Moicano's recent improvements, especially his takedowns against Herbert and Hernandez. Paul does not see crazy power from Riddell and thinks Moicano's chin is a concern, but he leans slightly to Moicano unless a good submission prop appears.

"My official pick for me is going to be Moy Kano... I've been kind of outside of the rda5 and kind of impressed by like the recent improvements from uh from moycano."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The MMA Guru picks Renato Moicano, citing Riddell's vulnerability after being KO'd by Fiziev and rocked by Dober. He believes Moicano will pressure, find a scramble, take Riddell's back, and choke him out. He notes Riddell's lack of offensive grappling and Moicano's experience and submission skills, predicting a rear-naked choke in the second or third round.

rear-naked choke, second or third round
"I'm going Renato moycano man"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Brad Riddell

Zane picks Brad Riddell, emphasizing that Riddell's ability to rally from bad rounds is proven, while Moicano's recent rally against Alex Hernandez was against a fighter prone to breaking. He notes that Moicano has been knocked out by various heavy-handed punchers and that Riddell's training with Fiziev could be instructive. Zane also points out that Moicano's submission wins come from guillotines, which are unlikely against Riddell.

Surprised Moicano is a favorite; thinks Riddell should be favored.
"I got to pick Riddell. I just, I still don't have enough faith that Moicano..."
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–44, 50–44) R5 5:00 · UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal · Mar 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael dos Anjos 1 149 of 286 52% 179 of 318 5 of 15 33% 0 0 13:22
Renato Moicano 0 88 of 172 51% 99 of 185 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael dos Anjos 0 22 of 34 64% 30 of 43 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:12
Renato Moicano 0 10 of 23 43% 12 of 25 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:30
2 Rafael dos Anjos 0 27 of 47 57% 32 of 52 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:44
Renato Moicano 0 15 of 29 51% 15 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Rafael dos Anjos 1 40 of 84 47% 52 of 97 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:05
Renato Moicano 0 15 of 25 60% 16 of 26 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
4 Rafael dos Anjos 0 22 of 42 52% 27 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:53
Renato Moicano 0 12 of 22 54% 20 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Rafael dos Anjos 0 38 of 79 48% 38 of 79 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:28
Renato Moicano 0 36 of 73 49% 36 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael dos Anjos 149 of 286 52% 119 of 255 23 of 24 7 of 7 84 of 198 7 of 8 58 of 80
Renato Moicano 88 of 172 51% 77 of 158 8 of 11 3 of 3 81 of 164 7 of 7 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael dos Anjos 22 of 34 64% 17 of 29 5 of 5 0 of 0 6 of 17 3 of 3 13 of 14
Renato Moicano 10 of 23 43% 6 of 19 3 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 19 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Rafael dos Anjos 27 of 47 57% 19 of 39 7 of 7 1 of 1 17 of 37 3 of 3 7 of 7
Renato Moicano 15 of 29 51% 12 of 26 1 of 1 2 of 2 14 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Rafael dos Anjos 40 of 84 47% 34 of 77 4 of 5 2 of 2 17 of 45 0 of 1 23 of 38
Renato Moicano 15 of 25 60% 14 of 24 1 of 1 0 of 0 15 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Rafael dos Anjos 22 of 42 52% 17 of 37 4 of 4 1 of 1 7 of 21 0 of 0 15 of 21
Renato Moicano 12 of 22 54% 12 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0 12 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 1
5 Rafael dos Anjos 38 of 79 48% 32 of 73 3 of 3 3 of 3 37 of 78 1 of 1 0 of 0
Renato Moicano 36 of 73 49% 33 of 67 3 of 6 0 of 0 34 of 71 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 25, 2022 (8 days before fight)

Angelo picks Fiziev but is hesitant, noting his brain says Fiziev but his heart says RDA. He highlights Fiziev's phenomenal striking and takedown defense, but questions his cardio over five rounds. He points out that RDA hasn't been finished in six years and only loses to wrestlers who take him down. He considers a plus 5.5 round bet on RDA.

considering over on rounds, plus 5.5 bet on RDA
"my brain is saying i need to go with fiz i have but my heart is saying my gut is saying that rda is going to win i've got to follow the brain"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Cody is torn because Moicano looked good on short notice against Hernandez, but the five-round nature favors RDA's experience and cardio. He notes RDA has fought 25 minutes many times and is a big lightweight who fought at welterweight, while Moicano has never gone five rounds and gassed in the Ortega fight. The catchweight of 160 also helps RDA. Cody ultimately flips to RDA but is hesitant due to the short-notice variable.

"i think uh i think rafael de san jose is the side"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Mar 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Daniel Levi picks Renato Moicano for the upset, but with hesitation. He notes that Moicano is the much bigger man with a size and reach advantage, and has good volume and a solid black belt. He points out that RDA has been taken down frequently in recent fights (by Usman, Colby, Chiesa, Leon) and that Moicano could have success in grappling exchanges. However, he conditions his pick on Moicano looking in shape at the weigh-in; if Moicano appears fat or out of shape, he would switch to RDA. He views this as a dog-or-pass situation and believes Moicano is on an upward trajectory.

"i actually will take henato mykano to come out here and get this upset"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

RDA is a tough veteran with excellent cardio and durability, while Moicano is taking the fight on four days' notice with travel and weight cut issues. Moicano will likely come out strong early but fade as the fight goes on. RDA's grappling and pressure will wear on Moicano, leading to a finish in the later rounds. The short notice and travel are huge red flags for Moicano.

RDA wins in round 4 (TKO), live betting opportunity on RDA if Moicano has early success
"i'm gonna call a finish for dos anos here i do think that he gets muy kano out of there let's call it round four"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Paul initially considered Moicano as a live underdog but after tape study flipped to RDA. He emphasizes RDA's five-round experience, size advantage (fought at 170), and clean camp versus Moicano's short notice and history of gassing. Paul points out Moicano's takedowns zap his cardio and he struggles striking backwards, while RDA mixes grappling and pace well. He calls it dog or pass but leans RDA.

"i think i am going to go with rda in this one"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lock picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The MMA Guru picks Renato Moicano (referred to as 'fizzyev') over Rafael dos Anjos, calling it a lock. He notes Moicano's speed advantage and RDA's decline at 155, especially his chin. He predicts Moicano will chew up RDA's legs with kicks in the first round, and when RDA pressures in the second, Moicano will catch him with a straight right for a TKO. He mentions RDA's only chance was in a five-rounder, but Moicano's patience and striking will prevail.

method: TKO, round: 2
"i'm going to go with raphael fizzyev second round ko early on in the second"
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Angelo picks Beneil Dariush because he believes Dariush's grappling and striking are a good matchup against Renato Moicano, who he thinks is too busy with outside commitments to be fully focused. He notes that Dariush is a BJJ world champion and a powerful striker, and he doesn't see Moicano out-grappling him. He also points out that Moicano's takedowns are not clean and he often clinches, while Dariush has shown incredible scrambles against top competition.

Angelo calls Dariush a 'phenomenal underdog' and implies value.
"I'm going to stick with what I did the first time, and that's pick Beneil Dariush. And I'm even more confident now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Big Brady likes the stylistic matchup for Dariush, who has elite takedown defense and is the better striker with more power. However, he is worried about Dariush coming off back-to-back knockout losses, his age, and potential chin issues. He thinks Moicano doesn't have knockout power but could still hurt Dariush. Brady predicts Dariush will win by knockout, but he is not confident due to the layoff and durability concerns.

Dariush wins by second round knockout
"I'm going to go Benel Derush by knockout. I don't feel amazing about it."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Connor picks Dariush but is not confident. He notes that Moicano has never knocked anyone out standing, so Dariush can survive on the feet. He believes Dariush's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Moicano's confidence can waver when things go wrong. However, he acknowledges that Moicano's lightweight run has been unpredictable and that Dariush has been knocked out brutally before.

"I think he's going to beat Hanata Moikano. Moikano is just not that dangerous a striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

The host is surprised Moicano is the favorite, believing Dariush's durability and grappling defense will shut down Moicano's approach. He predicts Dariush will land big shots and finish inside the distance, likely by TKO or submission within two and a half rounds.

inside the distance, TKO or submission, within two and a half rounds
"I really like Darius to shut down the grappling game of Moano then land some big shots of his own to eventually put Moano out probably by TKO maybe club and sub but either way I think Darush gets it done inside the distance."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The host picks Renato Moicano by decision, citing Dariush's long layoff and recent KO losses. He believes Moicano's grappling and striking have improved, and that he will start fast and set the tone. He expects a competitive fight but sees Moicano winning a 29-28 decision.

decision
"I'm taking Hanato Moano by decision here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Beneil Dariush

Zane also picks Dariush but is hesitant. He agrees that Moicano is not a dangerous striker and that Dariush can likely outgrapple him. He notes that Dariush has fought and beaten good grapplers before. However, he acknowledges that Moicano's run has been strange and that he has a tendency to find ways to win even when losing.

"I think I'll take Daryu's too, but I do not feel confident."
Comments (2)
BR
brian 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Dariush finds a way to win, by switching it up. Like he gets better as the fight goes in a way, good fight IQ during fights. Renato dumped his energy in trying to get a finish rd1 or 2?? and never recovered as Beneil grabbled against the fence ect

BR
brian 10 months, 3 weeks ago

One is having a resurgence and the other could be put out to pasture. The odds are even hmm