UFC Austin: Dariush Looks to Hold Off Tsarukyan Ahead of Key ’24

By
Gabriel Gonzalez
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Arman Tsarukyan to headline UFC Austin
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Arman Tsarukyan of Armenia kicks Christos Giagos in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Beneil Dariush is looking to spoil the rise of hungry young up-and-comer in Arman Tsarukyan as the two look to set up a big 2024 at UFC Austin.

To write off UFC Austin headliner Beneil Dariush would certainly be folly, especially considering the landscape at lightweight in the coming year.  The surging contender found himself on the losing side for the first time since 2018 when he faced former champion Charles Oliveira in May, snapping the eight fight win-streak he had accumulated leading up to then.  With a title shot on the line and a high profile victory for top contender Justin Gaethje coming two months later, it was a heartbreaking result to say the least in regards to Dariush’s title aspirations.

But things change quickly in MMA.  Current champion Islam Makhachev is eyeing a shot at the welterweight title after recently vanquishing pound-for-pound great Alexander Volkanovski for the second time.  By year’s end, the entire title picture in two divisions could look quite different and thus open the door back up for Dariush much faster than previously expected.  With a big main event slot against a dangerous rising star this Saturday, the stage is set for him to change the conversation back to how the man who vanquished Tony Ferguson, Mateusz Gamrot, Diego Ferreira, and others can fight for the title in the near future.

Saturday night is a second shot at a career breakthrough for Arman Tsarukyan.  The dynamic contender has been on the rise for more than a year now and he’s made the jump from prospect to bonafide threat in the past twelve months.  While he has faced the challenge of breaking into the upper-echelon of the shark tank that is the lightweight division, his resume houses a respectable amount of veterans and contenders like Damir Ismagulov, Joel Alvarez, Christos Giagos, and Matt Frevola.  He is also the last person to defeat the now two-time PFL lightweight champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

Last year, Tsarukyan found himself in a breath-takingly fast headliner against Mateusz Gamrot.  While the result ultimately did not go his way that night, it did boost his already considerable rising stock and pushed him further into the consciousness of the casual fans.  Since the match, he has won back-to-back fights to bring his total of UFC victories to seven.  Like Dariush, Tsarukyan is also poised for a big fight in 2024 with a victory.  With less than a handful of names ahead of them in the title picture and with big name contenders still without dance partners, Tsarukyan could conceivably be in talks to compete for the championship at this time next year.

The lightweight title picture is currently gridlocked with UFC CEO Dana White having verbally committed to rebooking the fight between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira.  BMF champion Justin Gaethje may be pressured to take a fight with Dariush or Tsarukyan as he waits for a title shot, but Gaethje has also made it clear he is committed to not risking what he has expressed is his last shot at UFC gold.  As such, it is possible that this Saturday’s winner could take on another high profile contender such as Dustin Poirier.  Quite possibly at UFC 300 which “The Diamond” has publicly campaigned to be a part of.

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