Beneil Dariush may have found a new opponent after his UFC 311 disaster.
The longtime lightweight contender was scheduled to fight Renato Moicano on Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in California, but he was pulled from the card after an injury-related reshuffle.
Arman Tsarukyan was forced to pull out of his fight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev before Moicano was elevated to the main event on 36 hours' notice.
Beneil Dariush was left without an opponent, but Dana White promised to 'take care of' him.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Grant Dawson calls out Beneil Dariush
Grant Dawson put on a dominant performance as he defeated Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC 311.
The 23-2-1 lightweight contender picked up the clear 30-27 scorecards from the judges before using his post-fight mic time to make a call.
“I really feel sorry for Beneil Dariush,” Dawson said.
“I know he couldn't fight tonight against a really good opponent, in my teammate Moicano.
“I will step in and I will fight Beneil Dariush. He says he wants to fight in April, there is a Miami card in April.
'That's the card I want. Beneil Dariush is the fight I want. I really hope I get that next time.”
Beneil Dariush reveals generous UFC gesture
After being cut from UFC 311, Dariush has revealed that the promotion both gave him his show and won money to soften the blow.
“It's excellent, I can't complain, they give me show and money, so you know, a lot of people say, 'I hope they take care of you'. I appreciate Dana and the UFC,” Dariush explained.
Following the fallout, Dariush claims he was promised a “good fight” and has outlined a few potential opponents he would like to share the Octagon with.
He added: “Ideally I would like to do it, if I'm super fast it would be March.
“I think ideally I would fight in April, if someone was in front of me.
“When I look at the rankings, it's Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway and Michael Chandler.”
Dawson isn't quite at the level of those guys yet, but he's ready and will be ready to go in a few months.
Watch this space as he could end up fighting Dariush if those closest to him are unavailable.
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