The UFC's most ruthless division just got another blockbuster bout as Benoît Saint Denis prepares to face Beneil Dariush in a pivotal lightweight showdown at UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden. The French warrior, currently ranked #13, has his sights set on breaking into the division's elite by taking down the #9-ranked Dariush in what promises to be one of the most compelling fights on an already stacked card.

Benoit Saint Denis vs. Beneil Dariush adds some fire to UFC 322

Saint Denis (15-3) has bounced back impressively from a challenging 2024 that saw consecutive setbacks against elite competition. After suffering a shocking knockout loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 followed by a doctor's stoppage defeat to Renato Moicano at UFC Paris, many questioned whether the “God of War” could reclaim his momentum.

Those doubts have been emphatically answered. Saint Denis returned to form with authority, first submitting Kyle Prepolec in May at UFC 315, then delivering a dominant submission victory over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris in September. The latter performance was particularly significant, marking the first loss for the previously undefeated Ruffy and allowing Saint Denis to showcase his finishing ability in front of his home crowd.

Prior to his two-fight skid, Saint Denis had established himself as one of the division's most exciting prospects with five consecutive UFC victories, finishing every opponent in spectacular fashion. His aggressive style and submission prowess had positioned him as a potential future title challenger before running into the division's upper echelon.

Standing opposite the surging Frenchman is Beneil Dariush (23-6-1), a veteran contender who knows exactly what it takes to compete at the sport's highest level. The 36-year-old American fighter recently snapped his own two-fight losing streak with a convincing decision victory over Moicano at UFC 317 in June, proving he still belongs among the lightweight elite.

Dariush's career trajectory tells the story of a fighter who came tantalizingly close to championship gold. Between November 2018 and October 2022, he compiled an extraordinary eight-fight winning streak that positioned him on the cusp of a title shot. However, that momentum was derailed by Charles Oliveira at UFC 289, where the former lightweight king scored a first-round TKO victory. A subsequent 64-second knockout loss to current **-ranked Arman Tsarukyan further complicated his title aspirations.

Despite those setbacks, Dariush remains supremely confident in his abilities. When Islam Makhachev needed an opponent at UFC 311 after Tsarukyan's withdrawal, Dariush boldly claimed he could have beaten the champion on short notice. “I would've won,” Dariush told MMA Junkie. “It would've been a finish for sure”. While Moicano ultimately took that fight and was submitted in the first round, Dariush's confidence remains unshaken.

The matchup presents fascinating stylistic contrasts that should produce fireworks inside the octagon. Saint Denis brings explosive finishing ability and relentless pressure, having secured victories through both strikes and submissions throughout his UFC tenure. His aggressive approach and willingness to engage in firefights has made him a fan favorite, but it also led to his downfall against elite strikers like Poirier.

Dariush counters with veteran savvy and well-rounded skills that have allowed him to compete with the division's best for over a decade. His takedown defense sits at an impressive 82%, well above the lightweight top 15 average of 74.6%. However, when Mateusz Gamrot managed to secure four takedowns against him, Dariush limited the control time to just over two minutes, demonstrating his ability to minimize damage even when taken down.

For Saint Denis, this represents the most significant opportunity of his career to crack the top 10 and position himself for bigger fights. A victory over a proven contender like Dariush would validate his recent resurgence and potentially earn him a matchup with someone in the division's upper tier.

Article Continues Below

Dariush, meanwhile, needs to prove that his victory over Moicano wasn't a one-off performance but rather a sign that he's ready to make another championship run. At 36, time isn't on his side, making this fight crucial for his title aspirations.

UFC 322: A Historic Night at Madison Square Garden

The Saint Denis-Dariush bout adds another compelling layer to what's shaping up as one of the year's most anticipated cards. UFC 322 will be headlined by Jack Della Maddalena defending his welterweight championship against former lightweight king Islam Makhachev, who vacated his 155-pound title to chase double-champion status.

The co-main event features another historic super fight as Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight title against Zhang Weili, the two-time strawweight champion moving up in weight. These championship bouts set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable night of fights.

Confirmed UFC 322 Fight Card

  • Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev – UFC Welterweight Championship
  • Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili – UFC Women's Flyweight Championship
  • Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates – Welterweight
  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez – Women's Flyweight
  • Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues – Middleweight
  • Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira – Middleweight
  • Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico – Middleweight
  • Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Middleweight
  • Angela Hill vs. Fatima Kline – Women's Strawweight
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Benoît Saint Denis – Lightweight

With the addition of Saint Denis vs. Dariush, UFC 322 continues to build momentum as one of the promotion's flagship events of the year. The lightweight division has long been considered the UFC's deepest and most competitive, and this bout between two fighters with everything to prove should exemplify exactly why that reputation exists.

When the octagon door closes at Madison Square Garden on November 15, both Saint Denis and Dariush will know that their championship dreams hang in the balance. For the French sensation, it's a chance to announce his arrival among the division's elite. For the veteran American, it's potentially his last realistic shot at title contention. Either way, fight fans are in for a treat when these two warriors collide in the world's most famous arena.