UFC 322: Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis Preview & Prediction
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Britain’s Leon Edwards takes on Brazil’s Carlos Prates in a pure striker’s delight — one of the fans’ favourite matchups in the welterweight division.
Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis facts
What time are Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint Denis expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 322
What TV channel is UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev main card
Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev (Welterweight)
Valentina Shevchenko vs Zhang Weili (Women’s Flyweight)
Sean Brady vs Michael Morales (Welterweight)
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis (Lightweight)
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev prelims
Bo Nickal vs Rodolfo Vieira (Middleweight)
Roman Kopylov vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)
Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez (Women’s Flyweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Ethyn Ewing (Featherweight)
Kyle Daukaus vs Gerald Meerschaert (Middleweight)
Pat Sabatini vs Chepe Mariscal (Featherweight)
Angela Hill vs Fatima Kline (Women’s Strawweight)
Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric McConico (Middleweight)
Viacheslav Borshchev vs Matheus Camilo (Lightweight)
Beneil Dariush: Veteran contender seeking one more run toward the top
Beneil “Benny” Dariush (23-6-1) enters UFC 322 as one of the most accomplished lightweights of the past decade, boasting victories over Tony Ferguson, Mateusz Gamrot, Drew Dober, and Thiago Moisés. His résumé is stacked with elite opposition, and his grinding grappling style, dangerous back-takes, and underrated kickboxing have long made him a tough puzzle for anyone at 155. He owns 8 submission wins and 10 decision victories, showing both finishing instincts and the endurance to win long, tactical battles. Across multiple eras of the division, Dariush has remained consistently competitive—an achievement few lightweights can claim.
However, the recent trend in his career has raised concerns. Dariush is 36 years old, and three of his last four fights have ended in defeat, including knockout losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan—two elite but highly explosive finishers. While he rebounded with a decision win over Renato Moicano, the performance lacked urgency and dynamism, suggesting slowing reactions and a diminishing ability to absorb damage. Dariush remains a high-level grappler with excellent anti-grappling skills and veteran composure, but the durability issues and the accumulation of intense, high-pace fights cast a shadow over his ability to withstand a surging, physical opponent.
Benoît Saint-Denis: Relentless finisher regaining momentum after a tough setback
Benoît “God of War” Saint-Denis (15-3, 1 NC) is one of the most dangerous rising forces in the lightweight division. A former French special forces operator, St-Denis fights with relentless pressure, cardio-draining clinch work, and a ruthless top-game that has earned him 11 career submission victories—an enormous 73% submission-win rate. Even in striking exchanges, he carries significant power and thrives in chaos, breaking opponents with pace and physicality. Notable wins over Ismael Bonfim, Thiago Moisés, Kyle Prepolec, and Mauricio Ruffy have established him as one of the division’s most violent finishers and most aggressive offensive grapplers.
Although St-Denis was thoroughly beaten by Renato Moicano earlier this year, his rebound win over Ruffy reminded everyone why he was once seen as a future title contender. Many expected Ruffy to outstrike him, but St-Denis dominated every phase before securing a submission and silencing doubts about his chin, cardio, and ability to adjust. At 29 years old, he is entering his physical prime and has shown rapid improvements in technique and composure. His grinding wrestling, suffocating pressure, and ability to chain submissions together make him a constant threat from the moment the fight begins.
Beneil Dariush vs Benoît Saint-Denis prediction
This matchup pairs an aging, technically rich veteran against a ferocious younger finisher riding a resurgence of momentum. Dariush has the grappling acumen and tactical experience to slow the fight down and create pockets of control, but his recent performances—and especially his knockout losses—suggest that his durability is no longer at the level required to withstand a fighter as physical and pressure-heavy as St-Denis. For St-Denis, his dominant win over Mauricio Ruffy showcased improved grappling fundamentals, better balance, and the same trademark tenacity that made him a breakout star in 2023.
Your prediction leans toward the fighter with youth, durability, and momentum on his side, and the stylistic matchup supports that assessment. St-Denis pushes a pace Dariush no longer seems able to comfortably handle, and his ability to mix takedowns with forward pressure threatens to put Dariush on the back foot early. Unless Dariush can slow the fight down and force lengthy grappling stalls, the younger, more explosive athlete is likely to take over as the minutes accumulate.
Prediction: Benoît Saint-Denis to win
