Beneil Dariush Says Tsarukyan Is One Of The Best

Austin, TX – Perenial contender UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush will look to turn back a young challenger when he faces Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Austin on Saturday night.

“I think he’s a stud. You look at him and every aspect he can fight,” Dariush told reporters on Wednesday.

“He can grapple, he can strike, he can mix it up. He’s 27 I think or 26. Young kid and makes him dangerous. When you’re young you grow in leaps and bounds. I don’t look at him like his last fight or the fight before that. I look at him like a better version. I prepare for that version.”

Taking on a younger guy that is lower in the rankings Dariush knows that perspective is important as to what he has to gain from the fight.

“What do you gain from this fight? I would say, in terms of status, nothing. I gain nothing from this fight. If I win I don’t think my ranking will change. If I lose I’m definitely going to get dropped quite a bit,” Dariush said.

“But I’m an athlete who loves to compete and I like to compete with the best people in the world. I believe he’s one of the best people in the world. That’s what motivates me to compete. It’s not an issue of rankings.”

Dariush, already looking at the end of his career, wants to make sure he leaves no stone unturned. Only fight the best of the best.

“I want to make sure, before I retire, I fight the best guys in the world and I think I’m doing that,” he said.

Watch the entire media day scrum with Beneil Dariush above. He takes on Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Austin.