Beneil Dariush Slams Islam Makhachev For Calling Out Leon Edwards

Beneil Dariush has slammed UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for calling out his welterweight counterpart Leon Edwards after the latter’s win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 286.

Edwards put an end to his rivalry with Usman by beating him by a comfortable majority decision in their welterweight title rematch at UFC 286, and upon the conclusion of the main event, Makhachev called for a super fight against ‘Rocky’.

Beneil Dariush On Islam Makhachev

Makhachev won’t get his wish for now, since Colby Covington is the next in line to fight for the title, according to Dana White. In a recent interview with Submission Radio (as transcribed by BJPenn.com), Dariush said that he thinks the Dagestani shouldn’t be calling for another champion vs champion fight, especially when there’s a long list of lightweight contenders waiting for him.

“I don’t understand. Like, what about title defenses?” Dariush said. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. Why? Maybe he’s having a hard time making weight at ’55 and he’s just like, ‘Let’s go to ’70 and relax.’ Honestly, I don’t get it. I think he needs to focus on his division. There’s a lot of good fighters in this division… I don’t know why he’s trying to run off to other divisions.

“Someone showed that to me and I just rolled my eyes… I don’t know what goes through these guys’ minds. But I get it. You worked so hard to get this belt and now you don’t wanna risk it and lose it, right? But this is not how you keep divisions active… There’s all these guys waiting at the door.”

Dariush is scheduled to face former champ Charles Oliveira in a potential lightweight title eliminator at UFC 288.

Do you agree with Beneil Dariush?