Beneil Dariush is never the type to get emotional about card placement, and his reaction to the UFC 322 shuffle proved that again. When his fight with Benoit Saint Denis was first listed as the featured prelim, he barely paid attention. When it later moved back to the main card after UFC decided to place Bo Nickal vs Rodolfo Vieira on the prelims instead, he appreciated the gesture but didn’t celebrate. For Dariush, the only thing that matters is fighting high-level competition and getting paid to do it.
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Dariush explained that he understood why Nickal and Vieira were originally placed above him. He respects Vieira’s elite jiu-jitsu credentials from the time he was a purple belt, and he’s long been a fan of Nickal’s wrestling achievements. He said it simply made sense to him that the UFC would showcase exciting and widely recognized grapplers.
When the promotion adjusted the card and restored him to the main card lineup, Dariush was thankful but not surprised. He said he values the recognition for the time and work he has put into the sport, but he would not have argued if he were left on the prelims. He also made it clear that his paycheck does not change based on card position, so there was no financial pressure to push for a higher slot.
What did mean something to him was the overwhelming response from fans who believed that his matchup with Saint Denis deserved to be on the main card. Dariush said he has not always been active on social media, but he has always felt supported by fans, and he plans to repay that support by delivering a strong performance at Madison Square Garden.
Dariush snapped a two-fight skid in June with a hard-fought win over Renato Moicano, a result that helped rebuild his confidence after losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. He admitted he was considering retirement if he felt he could no longer compete at a high level, but overcoming adversity in that fight helped him find clarity.
Now he faces Saint Denis, who is riding momentum of his own after two straight wins. Dariush accepted the matchup quickly after other potential opponents were unavailable, including Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot. He says staying active mattered more than waiting for a specific name.
With UFC 322 approaching, Dariush is eager to open the main card and put on a performance that reminds fans why he belongs among the top contenders.
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