The co-main of UFC Fight Night 73 is an intriguing matchup between two fighters that are quickly moving up the ranks in the stacked lightweight division. Johnson has strung together four straight wins, while Dariush has won five out of his six Octagon appearances. With both fighters inching closer toward title contention, I expect them to both leave it all out in the Octagon. Michael Johnson (16-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC, -150) Johnson has been somewhat of an enigma during his run in the UFC. Like many others, he started his UFC career as a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter. He appeared on the twelfth edition of the show and made it all the way to the finals, but ultimately lost to Jonathan Brookins. Johnson had some great moments after the show, including handing Tony Ferguson his only loss and knocking out Danny Castillo. Unfortunately, he could not sustain that momentum, as he lost his next two contests after beating Castillo. However, Michael has really seemed to put it all together since joining The Blackzilians in Boca Raton, Florida. Working with striking coach Henri Hooft and other Blackzilian coaches like Jorge Santiago and Tyrone Spong has really elevated his game and made him a contender in the lightweight division. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Johnson has developed into one of the better strikers in the lightweight division. He utilizes excellent footwork, movement, and angles to create openings and not get hit in return. Michael is very athletic and explosive and he uses that to his advantage in the Octagon. Johnson’s right hook to straight left combination is his go-to technique and it lands with force. Further, he is also a decent offensive wrestler that will hit the occasional double-leg when he wants to mix things up. He does not have a great submission or top game, and that has led to his downfall on several occasions. Six of his eight career losses have come via submission, so he will have to be extra careful in this fight against Dariush, who is a very high-level black belt in jiu jitsu. Beneil Dariush (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC, +130 underdog) Dariush had long been a hyped prospect when he made his UFC debut in 2014, which he made good on by knocking down and submitting Charlie Brenneman in the first round. However, his sophomore effort did not go well as he was knocked out by Ramsey Nijem in the first round, which was a shock to many. Like most good fighters do, Dariush went back to his gym, Kings MMA, and improved his game. Often referred to as UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos’ brother, the two are each other’s main training partners. Training with the champion of your weight class on a daily basis will certainly improve a fighter’s skill level. Since the loss to Dariush, Beneil has racked up four straight wins over Tony Martin, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Daron Cruickshank, and Jim Miller. Like Johnson, Dariush fights out of a southpaw stance and certainly packs a solid punch. Kicks are a big part of Dariush’s arsenal, as he loves to work the body and head with them. He absolutely brutalized Cruickshank’s midsection with body kicks in their contest at UFC 185 in March. Dariush also has a stiff jab and a solid straight left hand that has some power behind it. However, Beneil does his best work on the ground. He is a high-level black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Romulo Barral. Further, he has good enough wrestling to get most opponents to the mat on a consistent basis. Once on the ground, Dariush flows seamlessly from position to position, all while applying heavy top pressure. He has an especially good back mount and arm-triangle choke. Johnson will be Dariush’s toughest test to date and would almost certainly find himself in the top ten of the lightweight division with a win on Saturday Night. Thoughts This is a tough fight to call because both fighters have a clear path to victory. Johnson will need to use his superior speed, footwork, and athleticism to keep Dariush off him, all while inflicting damage in the process. Dariush’s path is also clear; he wants to get this fight to the ground as soon as possible, where he will have a big advantage. Johnson is very quick and dangerous on the feet, but he has been submitted six times in his career and I am sure that is something Dariush will look to take advantage of. Considering Johnson’s previous failures against high level grapplers, I will have to side with Dariush to pick up the victory. The Prediction: Beneil Dariush defeats Michael Johnson by submission (round 2)
