Dariush Fined 20% After Missing Weight for UFC 322 Bout

UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, lightweight veteran Beneil Dariush has missed weight by 1.2 pounds ahead of his highly anticipated fight at UFC 322. Dariush weighed in at 157.2 pounds on Friday at Madison Square Garden, forcing him to forfeit 20 percent of his purse for the bout against Benoit Saint Denis.

The limit for a non-title lightweight contest is 156 pounds, and despite this setback, the fight will proceed as scheduled on the main card. The specifics of Dariush’s fine remain undisclosed, as fighter purses are not public record in New York. This marks the second time in Dariush’s career that he has missed weight, the first incident occurring in 2020.

In other exciting developments at UFC 322, former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is making headlines as he steps up in weight class for a welterweight title fight against Jack Della Maddalena. Makhachev weighed in at 170 pounds, aiming to become the latest two-weight champion in the UFC. Additionally, former strawweight champion Zhang Weili is also seeking a title in a higher weight class, weighing in at 124.6 pounds for her flyweight championship fight against Valentina Shevchenko.

With the stakes higher than ever, UFC fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome of these pivotal clashes at UFC 322. As the event unfolds, all eyes will be on Dariush to see how he performs under the pressure of this unexpected weight miss. The implications of these matchups could redefine careers and set the stage for future title shots in the UFC.

Stay tuned for the latest updates as UFC 322 approaches!