UFC on Fox 15 Results: 3 Fights for Beneil Dariush to Take Next

With his dominant win over hometown hero Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 15, Beneil Dariush established himself as a force at 155 pounds. While besting Miller might not mean quite as much as it did three or four years ago, it still matters an awful lot.

Particularly noteworthy was the manner in which the feat was accomplished. Dariush comprehensively out-grappled and outthought one of the lightweight division’s most accomplished competitors.

Where this places the 25-year-old in the sport’s most talent-rich division remains to be seen, but he should certainly be within spitting distance of the Top 10.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what may be next in store for Dariush.

Al Iaquinta

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After his controversial decision win over Jorge Masvidal earlier this month, Al Iaquinta finds himself on the cusp of the division’s Top 10.

Parallels can certainly be drawn between Iaquinta and Dariush, particularly given their recent wins over two of the sport’s savviest veterans.

They are among the most promising talents in the lightweight division. And with both men vying for a spot in the Top 10, pairing them off appears to be a no-brainer.

Bobby Green

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We haven’t heard an awful lot about Bobby Green since his lopsided decision loss to Edson Barboza late last year. The 28-year-old had built up a great deal of momentum, but a lackluster win over Josh Thomson along with the aforementioned loss to Barboza has cost him his place in the lightweight conversation.

Lurking just outside of the division’s Top 10, Green will no doubt be eager to make a statement and reassert his status as one of the elite at 155 pounds. A win over a rising prospect like Dariush would certainly accomplish that.

And for Dariush, besting a fighter of Green’s caliber would establish him as a future contender.

Jorge Masvidal

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Despite dropping a close decision to Al Iaquinta at UFC Fight Night 63, Jorge Masvidal didn’t lose anything in defeat. Indeed, most viewers would likely argue that the wrong man got the nod.

The 30-year-old still has plenty to offer the sport and is a handful for anyone outside of the division’s Top Five.

A fight with Masvidal would give us an indication of Dariush’s ceiling. Whether the UFC will be interested in matching up Dariush with a fighter who is technically coming off a loss remains to be seen, though.