The UFC is discussing a potential clash between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush for later this year, and “Benny’s” teammate Neiman Gracie likes Dariush’s chances against the jiu-jitsu ace.
A member of the family that has founded Brazilian jiu-jitsu and created the UFC three decades ago, Neiman trains alongside Dariush at Kings MMA in California and works with head coach Rafael Cordeiro, who was one of the pillars of the legendary Chute Boxe team in Brazil, now home of Oliveira.
Dariush and “do Bronx” were paired to meet once in the past, but the Brazilian withdrew from the Oct. 2020 bout due to undisclosed reasons and only returned two months later to dominate Tony Ferguson and earn a shot at the belt. Meanwhile, Dariush patiently awaits his turn after collecting eight straight victories inside the octagon.
“Watching Charles fight is so fun because you’re always wondering what will happen,” Gracie said on this week’s episode of MMA Fighting podcast Trocacao Franca. He scores a knockdown, and he gets knocked out. He’s always so fun to watch. It’s going to be an exciting fight. This could possibly be the fight of the Year .”
Oliveira holds the UFC record for submission wins, but is not unsubmittable. He has lost four of nine MMA matches via tapout. Dariush was choked once in his career, losing to Michael Chiesa in 2016, but has shown grappling skills in UFC wins over Frank Camacho, Drew Dober, Daron Cruickshank, Anthony Rocco Martin and Charlie Brenneman.
“Their jiu-jitsu are different from one another,” Gracie said. Charles’s jiujitsu has more attacks from every position. He has many submissions up his sleeve, guillotines, triangles, millions of things. ‘Benny’s’ [jiu-jitsu] is different, he progresses more, wants to pass your guard, mount and try to submit you. Charles tries to submit you from any position, and that ends up putting Charles in a bit of danger sometimes because of how much he exposes himself. I think that’s one situation ‘Benny’ can take advantage of in the fight, Charles exposing himself, to try to progress and maybe even submit him.”
“I would say Charles’ best weapon, his biggest strength, is also his biggest weakness too, that style of going forward and giving his all in the fight,” he continued. “He goes out there walking forward to see what happens. “Benny” has both jiujitsu, striking and wrestling to counter his attacks. If ‘Benny’ fights smart like he’s been fighting his past [eight] fights with no losses, I believe he wins. But always be careful because Charles is super dangerous and can also submit you or knock you out at any moment.”
Gracie returns to Bellator Saturday to take on Dante Schiro, Inglewood, Calif. He is certain that Dariush has the power to stop the fight “on the feet”, making a statement which would move him to the top of the lightweight title race.
“Winning, ‘Benny’ will fight for title next,” Gracie stated. We believe it, but can’t foresee the future. Dana White and the UFC are two examples of men who think one way but change their minds the following day. We do believe that [Dariush] will be fighting the winner of Islam Makhachev and [Alexander Volkanovski] at the end of the year.
” We’re still waiting on the belt, but millions of possibilities are possible. [Conor] McGregor may return, but you never know. Take a look at the Glover [Teixeira] fight Dana put together. He didn’t like the outcome so put Glover in place of another [at UFC 283].. MMA still has a lot to change as a sport, it’s still too much of a show. We don’t know the future .”
, even though it is a sport.
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/2/1/23579398/neiman-gracie-charles-oliveira-weapon-weakness-beneil-dariush-ufc-bellator?rand=96749
