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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun

Beneil Dariush explains why Alexander Volkanovski faces hard time vs. Islam Makhachev, other UFC lightweights

Islam Makhachev Alexander Volkanovski Beneil Dariush UFC Charles Oliveira

Beneil Dariush believes Alexander Volkanovski would be tested like never before against Islam Makhachev.

Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC), the reigning UFC featherweight champion, weighed in as a backup for this past Saturday’s UFC 280 lightweight title fight between Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) submitted Oliveira in Round 2 and called Volkanovski over to the octagon for a faceoff afterward.

Makhachev is eyeing a superfight against Volkanovski for his first defense at UFC 284 on Feb. 11 in Perth, Australia. But after being around Volkanovski during fight week, Dariush (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) thinks he’d struggle with the size difference when going up against strong lightweights like Makhachev.

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