UFC Fight Night 98 Date: November 5, 2016 Arena: Mexico City Arena City: Mexico City, Mexico Lightweight bout: Beneil Dariush (+115) vs Rashid Magomedov (-135) Fight Breakdown: The UFC Fight Night 98 main card will feature a lightweight contest between Beneil Dariush and Rashid Magomedov, with Dariush being a +115 ($100 to win $115) underdog and Magomedov being a -135 ($135 to win $100) favorite at Several Bookmakers. Beneil Dariush (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) last saw action at UFC 199 a few months back, where he returned to the win column with a first round TKO of TUF 15 veteran James Vick. It was arguably his most impressive performance inside the Octagon, and he will be aiming to make it two in a row heading into Saturday night’s outing against Magomedov. The 27 year old is a southpaw who packs a powerful punch and is a very effective counter-striker. He is a very talented grappler who works excellent takedowns and has a solid submission game, owning a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Dariush is really good at taking his opponents’ backs during an exchange. He also has an excellent guard and is a real threat off of his back. His defensive grappling skills are noteworthy, as well, as he has good takedown defense and is capable of keeping the fight on the feet. The Californian has a nice straight left, loves to throw kicks, and has a variety of them in his arsenal. He also loves to implement his knees, and even has a nice flying knee he likes to go for. Training out of Kings MMA in in Huntington Beach, CA, under the tutelage of striking coach Rafael Cordeiro, Dariush is a very well-rounded mixed martial artist who is generally well-conditioned, though he may be at a slight disadvantage in the department heading into this contest against the Dagestani. Rashid Magomedov (19-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns a year ago and will be looking to make it five in a row for himself inside the Octagon following an extended layoff. Cage rust could be a concern but I don’t expect it to play a big factor with the Dagestani. Magomedov is a talented, well rounded mixed martial artist who is great both on the feet and on the mat, but prefers to keep his fights standing, where he believes he generally holds an adantage over his opponents. He has great footwork and moves well inside the cage. He does a really good job of moving in and out of range, landing shots without taking damage. The 32 year old is an excellent counter striker who is effective while moving backwards. He has a great kicking game and owns a variety of kicks in his arsenal. His leg, body and head kicks are all very good, with power behind them. Magomedov puts together some fantastic combinations on the feet. He is a very technical striker and is quite accurate with his shot selection. The Dagestani fighter packs a heavy overhand right and throws a nice straight right, as well. He works solid takedowns and has very good takedown defense of his own. When taken down, he does a great job of working his way back to his feet. Gabe’s Thoughts: I see this fight playing out on the feet, where I believe Magomedov holds an advantage. I think he will outpoint Dariush over the course of three rounds for a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards. Gabe’s Call: Magomedov by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Magomedov (-135) 2.7u to win 2u
