“Can’t force a man to fight…” Beneil Dariush exposes Dustin Poirier for turning down fight opportunity twice

Dustin Poirier turned him down twice, according to Beneil Dariush, who will battle Arman Tsarukyan this weekend.


“Can’t force a man to fight…” Beneil Dariush exposes Dustin Poirier for turning down fight opportunity twice

Beneil Dariush, who will face Arman Tsarukyan this weekend, reveals Dustin Poirier turned him down 2 times. (via Imago/YouTube)

Beneil Dariush, a familiar face in the UFC lightweight class, has revealed a string of wasted opportunities to meet Dustin Poirier in the cage. The news comes as Dariush prepares to make his UFC Austin fight, hoping to come back from a brutal loss to former champion Charles Oliveira. He faces off against a rising contender in the lightweight division, Arman Tsarukyan.

Dariush has publicly revealed that Dustin Poirier declined two opportunities to face him in the octagon. He said maybe Poirier wants to pick his fights carefully. Beneil Dariush, maintaining a composed demeanor, expressed his understanding, stating:

I can't force a man to fight me. The opportunity to fight a guy like Dustin Poirier would be amazing because of his skills and what he has done in this sport ... If he wants to pick his fights at this point, all the best.
Beneil Dariush at ESPN 52 Media Day
YouTube video

Dariush confessed he hasn’t heard the other side of the story, thus the reasons behind Poirier’s choice to refuse the matches remain unknown. Despite his lack of comprehension of Dustin Poirier‘s position, Dariush maintained his professionalism. He added that he would be interested in learning more about Poirier’s position on the topic.

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Dariush’s readiness to meet Poirier, along with the two declined offers, has aroused debate in the MMA world. Beneil Dariush, ever the professional, is focused on his forthcoming bout with Tsarukyan. He considers Tsarukyan a stronger challenge than Dustin.

Arman Tsarukyan is hopeful of a title fight after he finishes Beneil Dariush

Arman Tsarukyan has stated that a decisive victory against Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52 will give him a championship opportunity. Tsarukyan, who is presently rated No. 12 in the lightweight rankings, sees Dariush as the main obstacle to his career goals.

Arman Tsarukyan believes that he is eligible for a title shot if he finishes Beneil Dariush
Arman Tsarukyan believes that he is eligible for a title shot if he finishes Beneil Dariush (via LockerRoom India)

Tsarukyan, 27, has won seven of his last eight fights. He has regularly advocated for high-profile fights in the crowded 155-pound class. He feels that beating Dariush, a regular contender, will catapult him to the next level and open the door to a title fight. This is what he had to say:

Finally, I got a big fight, and I’m so excited. If I finish him, I can talk about a title fight.
Arman Tsarukyan at ESPN 52 Media Day

Despite the potential implications of a victory against Dariush, Tsarukyan emphasizes that he is not underestimating his opponent. He expects a difficult five-round battle from the UFC veteran. He sees Dariush as a well-rounded fighter capable of deciphering his game plan and responding intelligently.

Let us remind you that Arman faced the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, way before he was the champion. Many fight fans and analysts believe that he was one of two people to give Makhachev a tough fight.

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