UFC Fight Night: Dariush Vs Tsarukyan Tips
The UFC returns from a week off as two top-10 lightweights go head-to-head in Texas, as Beneil Dariush faces Arman Tsarukyan.
Fourth-ranked Dariush is looking to get his title aspirations back on track, after suffering a first-round knockout to Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 in the summer. That defeat ended an eight-fight win streak that had led the 34-year-old to the verge of a shot at Lightweight gold.
Meanwhile, eighth-ranked Tsarukyan has racked up back-to-back wins since his own five-fight winning run ended, in a close match-up with fellow top contender Mateusz Gamrot by unanimous decision back in June 2022.
The 27-year-old now has his sights set on a place in the top five of one of the UFC’s most fiercely competitive divisions.
Despite his unassuming look, Dariush has proved that he is amongst the UFC’s lightweight elite on his seemingly longer than average run at the belt.
A decorated Jiu-jitsu black belt, his move to MMA has seen him gain eight submission victories so far, including five rear naked chokes, two arm triangles and one armbar. These opportunistic submissions may prove to be helpful in his quest to catch out a fast-twitch wrestler such as Tsarukyan.
As with many distinguished grapplers, Dariush has fallen in love with his hands and has some impressive knockouts on his resume - most notably the spinning backfist knockout of Scott Holtzman, as well as an accomplished performance against mutual opponent Gamrot.
Although his stand-up has vastly improved, Dariush does leave himself open to being hit. His dramatic shootout win over Drakkar Klose in 2020 is the most positive outcome of this willingness to trade, coming out on top despite being badly rocked.
However, Dariush has been KO’d four times in his five losses including in brutal fashion last time out against Charles Oliveira, which does leave him vulnerable to someone equal to his grappling.
Tip: Arman Tsarukyan to win by KO, TKO or DQ - 7/5
Back Arman Tsarukyan to win by KO, TKO or DQ
Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC career so far gives us a snapshot of who he is as an MMA fighter.
The 27-year-old is 7-2 in the organization with his only losses coming against two of the best in the Lightweight division, earning him “Fight of The Night” bonuses on both occasions. He also has two other “Performance of the Night” bonuses to his name, for standout displays in wins against Christos Giagos and Joel Alvarez.
The Armenian stepped up to face then touted future champion Islam Makhachev on short notice in his UFC debut back in 2019 and despite coming up short over three rounds, gave the now incumbent UFC Lightweight champion one of his toughest tests to date in the wrestling department.
After that loss he went on to record a five-fight winning streak before losing a razor close encounter with fellow top contender Gamrot in June 2022, this time in a main event over five rounds.
Since the Gamrot defeat, Tsarukyan has put back-to-back wins together, including an impressive finish of Joaquim Silva last time out in June, as he looks to build towards another run at the belt and potentially a rematch with Makhachev.
Tsarukyan has shown he has a superb wrestling pedigree, while his time spent at Tiger Muay Thai, after winning their much coveted tryouts contract in 2018, evidences his stand-up skillset.
The Armenian has a potent array of kicks in his arsenal which when mixed in with his constant threat of takedowns, can leave his opponents open to potentially fight ending scenarios. When his opponents hit the ground, Tsarukyan has a spiteful ground and pound game, with three stoppages in his last five fights. When he smells blood, Tsarukyan can certainly deliver finishes.
As well as his phenomenal wrestling, Tsarukyan has shown himself to be a great kickboxer. Sometimes we see two great grapplers simply scrap it out on their feet and this could well be the case here, once both have tested each other out early in the fight.
Dariush has power in his hands but does leave himself exposed. Expect Tsarukyan to be a little more calculated in the striking exchanges and land something similar to the head kick from Charles Oliveira, that was the beginning of the end of Dariush last time out.
Once he smells a finish, expect Tsarukyan to be ruthless until the referee steps in.
