Fighter Profile: Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush was suppose to take on UFC Lightweight standout Islam Makachev in a high level grappling Matchup. With Dariush’s BJJ and Makachev’s Sambo and wrestling on full display. Unfortunately for MMA fans across the world Dariush got injured. Hopefully for UFC fans this matchup will be made up at some point in the future, maybe for the belt. Dariush is an amazing fighter with both ground and striking game.

Dariush was born May 6, 1989 in Urmia, Iran where he was raised on his family’s farm. Eventually his family would move to America where they had family, but things were tough for Dariush who didn’t speak English. He’d start training in Martial Arts first in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which he earned his Black Belt in an astounding five years after training considering with most people it usually takes them about ten to 15 years with no interruptions. Some of Dariush’s accomplishments in the grappling world where being a no gi world champion as a blue, purple, and brown belt and many other silver and bronze medals. Dariush would also train in Muay Thai under Rafael Cordeiro where he’d earn his Black Belt.

Dariush made his MMA debut in November of 2009 when he faced off against Jordan Betts winning by Split Decision. Dariush would then face off against Vance Bejarano winning by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) Dominic Gutierrez would be next for Dariush in October 2011 he’d get the win via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) He’d then face Gilberto dos Santos in the High Fight Rock promotion winning by TKO(Doctor Stoppage.) He’d then face Trace Gray earning a quick victory with an Armbar. He’d then KO Jason Meaders in his last fight not in the UFC.

Dariush would enter the UFC with a perfect 6-0 record. In his first outing with the promotion he’d face Charlie Brenneman winning by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) He’d then face Ramsey Nijem in April of 2014, he’d lose by TKO(Punches.) He’d then win five fights in a row including victories over Daron Cruickshank, Jim Miller, and Michael Johnson. His streak was snapped when he faced Michael Chiesa. He’d win two in a row next with victories over James Vick and Rashid Magomedov. The Next patch of Dariush’s career was very rough with two losses to Edson Barboz and Alexander Hernandez and a draw to Evan Dunham. He’d then go on a seven fight win Streak which he is still riding.

We hope to see Dariush fight again soon. It’s already been ten months since we saw him in the UFC Octagon and hopefully we’ll see him continue this win streak in a division full of killers.

What’s Next For Bryce Mitchell

Although he has many controversial opinions Bryce Mitchell proved that he is one of the best fighters in the Featherweight division. Mitchell stepped in the cage and put on a great performance against Edson Barboza. He smothered Barboza much like Khabib did when he faced Barboza in 2017. Mitchells ground work is top level and it would be interesting to see him take on someone who’s just as good as him on the ground or a pure striker. There are some really good matchups that could be made in the Featherweight division.

The first fight I think that would make sense for the Arkansas based Jiu Jitsu Black Belt would be a matchup between him and Giga Chikadze. Chikadze is a great striker who I think would be a no-brainer matchup for the UFC to make. It’s a classic striker vs. grappler matchup which they love to make. Chikadze is coming off a loss to Calvin Kattar in January where Chikadze took a lot of abuse and was Medically Suspended indefinitely so who knows when Chikadze will be able to fight again, but this is definitely a matchup I’d like to see for Mitchell.

Another matchup I think that would make sense for Mitchell would be between him and the Boston Finisher Calvin Kattar. Kattar is one tough fighter who has a Knockout power and would be a good binary between Mitchells grappling. Kattar is coming off a win to Giga Chikadze and in the outing before that one he lost to Featherweight great Max Holloway. Kattar has an amazing resume with 28 professional bouts to his name starting his career 15 years ago in 2007. Since then he’s only had an impressive five losses.

The final matchup I think would make sense for Mitchell would be the winner of Dan Ige and Movsar Evloev. Ige is very proficient on the ground with a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Jeff Doner, he also wrestled in college and also has a Brown Belt in Judo. This matchup would be good for Mitchell as it might prepare him for someone as high caliber as Brian Ortega at some point down the line. Evloev is a Russian who is Master of Sports in Greco-Roman wrestling and is Undefeated. I think this would be a good matchup for Mitchell.

We’re not the UFC matchmakers but there are some great fights that they could definitely put together for Mitchell who is on his way to proving he’s one of the best Featherweight MMA fighters in the world.

Fighter Profile: Carla Esparza

UFC Fight Night: Xiaonan v Esparza — Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Former Invicta and UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza has been out of the UFC Octagon since she beat Yan Xiaonan in May of 2021. Esparza is supposedly next in line for a shot at Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas. Who she won the Inaugural UFC Strawweight belt against all the way back in 2014. Fans definitely want to see this matchup again, even if Dana White doesn’t. Esparza has a five fight win streak and it’d be great to see her face Namajunas.

Esparza was born October 10, 1987 in Torrance, CA. She would attend Redondo Union High School wrestling for the varsity team during her junior year. She would win a few tournaments and would have the option to go to college for wrestling which she did. Esparza would attend Menlo College, a NAIA Division 1 School. She’d become an All American in Wrestling under the tutelage of coach and former two-time Olympian Lee Allen. Esparza in addition to wrestling while in college would also take up Brazillian Jiu Jitsu under Rener, Ryron, and Ralek Gracie at the Gracie Academy in Torrance. She is currently a Brown Belt.

Cassie Trost was Esparza’s first MMA opponent in February of 2010. Esparza would win by TKO (Punches) in round one. Esparza would then face Karina Hallinan winning by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) She’d then face Lacey Sears she’d win by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in round two. She’d then get the first loss of her career when she stepped into the cage against Megumi Fujii for Bellator. She’d then get two wins in a row against Nina Nunes (née Ansaroff) and Yadira Anzaldua. She’d then drop a fight to Jessica Aguilar. She’d win her next three fights before competing for the Invicta Strawweight belt against Bec Rawlings she’d win by Unanimous Decision.

Esparza would then get the call to be on the Ultimate Fighter 20 Women’s Strawweight tournament.Esparza would face Angela Hill, Tecia Torres, and Jessica Penne on the Ultimate fighter Earning her a spot in the show’s live finale. She’d face Rose Namajunas winning by Submission (rear-naked choke) and thus winning the show and the first UFC Strawweight belt. She’d lose the belt in her next fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Esparza would win three of her next four before dropping two in a row to Claudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez. She’s currently riding a five fight win streak including victories over Michelle Waterson, Marina Rodriguez, and Yan Xiaonan.

We hope to see Esparza fight soon, and we hope it’s for the belt.

FIGHTER PROFILE: CHARLES OLIVEIRA

Charles Oliveira captured the vacant UFC lightweight title

Charles Oliveira will be making his return to the UFC Octagon to make his first title defense at UFC 269 against Dustin Poirier. Oliveira who is a submission specialist with knockout power. Oliveira is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge “Macaco” Patino. And he hopes to finish Dustin Poirier by Snap, Tap, or nap. But Poirier is riding his own streak so it will be interesting to see how this one shakes out. It’s sure to be a great fight.

Oliveira was born in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil on October 17, 1989. Oliveira was born into a poor family and came from nothing and was raised in a favela which is a type of slum in Brazil which is a very rough place to grow up. As a child Oliveira started playing soccer, but unfortunately at age seven he was diagnosed with Rheumatic fever and a Heart murmur. This condition affected Oliveira who was told by doctors he might not be able to walk again. Despite this setback Oliveira continued walking and took up Martial Arts. He started out with a neighbor, but soon it would consume him; he won his first major Jiu Jitsu title as a white belt in 2003.

In 2007 Oliveira took his first MMA fight against Rui Machado for the Circuito Nacional de Vale-Tudo Amador promotion. Oliveira would win by Submission (Armbar.) Oliveira would then go pro, he’d make his pro debut against Jackson Pontes for the Predador FC Promotion. He’d fight twice more for that promotion that night with victories over Viscardi Andrade and Diego Braga both by TKO. Oliveira would fight for a few more different promotions and compiled an impressive record of 12-0. Oliveira caught the attention of the UFC.

Oliveira made his UFC debut on August 1, 2010 with a victory over Darren Elkins by Submission (armbar.) his next fight would be a win against Efrain Escudero by Submission (rear-naked choke.) After this fight Oliveira would have a rough patch in his career with his first loss to Jim Miller, then a no contest to Nik Lentz, and then a Loss to Cowboy Cerrone. He’d win his next two, but then drop a pair of fights to Frankie Edgar. He’d win six of his next 10 fights. Oliveira would then return to Lightweight where he has been unstoppable. Only losing one fight to Paul Felder. Oliveira has been on a nine fight win streak including a win in his last fight for the vacant Lightweight title against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 which he won by TKO (punches.)

Oliveira makes his return to the UFC octagon on Saturday at UFC 269 to defend his title. Oliveira does everything right so it will be interesting to see if he pulls off the victory against Poirier.

FIGHTER PROFILE: LAUREN MURPHY

Lauren Murphy Slams Critics Who Think Nicco Montano is Ducking Valentina Shevchenko | MMAWeekly.com

On Saturday Lauren Murphy will be making her return to The UFC Octagon. She will be facing Valentina Schevchenko who unlike Murphy, has been a lifelong martial artist. But Murphy may have what it takes to defeat Schevchenko and is a testament to what one can achieve when they put in a whole lot of hard work and dedication. Murphy has made a career out of proving people wrong, and putting in a lot of hard work, and Murphy has clawed her way back for a title shot which she definitely deserves.

Murphy was born in Anchorage, Alaska on July 27, 1983. When Murphy was 11 her father was killed in a plane crash which caused a major upheaval in Murphy’s life. She began drinking at this young age and this led to other problems in her life including drug use. She would end up dropping out of high school.She’d go on to give birth to her son.

Murphy’s drinking would get to the point that her family didn’t want to associate with her. In 2009 Murphy’s life changed for the better, as she took her son to a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class. She decided to take a class also to encourage her son to keep taking the class, and she fell in love with the sport and started training regularly. She’d eventually start training MMA a short while later.

Murphy would take her first MMA bout six months into her martial arts career skipping the amateur step of her career completely. This would pay dividends because she’d win her first four fights leading to her first title Alaska Cage Fighting Featherweight championship. From there Murphy would move on to bantamweight where she’d fight her next four fights eventually capturing the Invicta Bantamweight Championship belt.

In 2014 Murphy joined the UFC roster. She made her debut on August 16, 2014 in Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately for Murphy she’d lose the bout and she’d go on to lose her second bout to Liz Carmouche. Murphy would get her first win in the promotion against Kelly Faszholz on February 21, 2016 by TKO in round three. Murphy then faced Katlyn Chookagian and unfortunately she would lose this bout too. It was her only third loss of her career

She would say of her early UFC career; “I felt like I was still a little bit in over my head and like I was still the new kid on the block,” she said. “I had only trained for four years when I got into the UFC. It wasn’t like I had been around the game for ten years-plus or had a wrestling background, boxing fights or judo tournaments. I didn’t have any of that. I trained MMA for four years when I walked in and fought an Olympian (Sara McMann). So a big part of me felt like I didn’t belong there quite yet. And it was hard to shake. It took my brain a while to catch up where I was at.”

Murphy would go back to the promotion when she competed on The Ultimate Fighter 26 where she fought to become the 125 pound champion. She’d make her return to the UFC Octagon for The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion Finale where she was an alternate and fought Barb Honchak. Murphy would go on to win that fight and would go on to win 5 of her next six fights which gave her a shot at the women’s Flyweight title.

Murphy is currently ranked third in the UFC’s Women’s Flyweight division. Murphy will face Women’s Flyweight champion Valentina Schevchenko on Saturday September 25th and it’s sure to be a great fight. Murphy proves that with hard work anyone can turn their life around.

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FIGHTER PROFILE: SEAN BRADY

Sean Brady lands a shot on Jake Matthews at UFC 259. Photo courtesy of *Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC*

Sean Brady is quickly making a name for himself in the MMA world. The Pennsylvania native who fights in the UFC Welterweight division has an impressive undefeated record of 14-0 with four of his last fights being with the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Currently Brady is ranked 13th in his division and will get his first big test in November when he faces number seven ranked Welterweight Michael Chiesa at The UFC APEX.

Brady was born and raised in Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He lives there to this day. Brady attended Swenson Arts and Technology High School where he studied to take up the automotive trade. It was at this time that Brady decided to start his martial arts training.Brady originally started his training doing Muay Thai, but also started taking lessons In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Brady is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Daniel Gracie

Brady thinks that being from Philadelphia adds an edge to his fight game. In an interview with Thomas Gerbasi he said this of what it means to him to be a fighter from Philadelphia. “I think if you ask pretty much any fighter from Philly, we’ve all got that chip on our shoulder because it’s a blue collar city. Everyone in Philly works super hard at whatever they do, whether it’s fighting or you’re a construction worker and whatever you are, you’re getting up and earning everything you get. We’ve got that grit and that toughness, and that’s what it means to be a Philly fighter.”

Brady who started his amature career 5-0 got his professional start in the Cage Fury FC promotion. He would start at lightweight but move up to welterweight after one fight in CFFC. Brady would go on to win his next four fights which earned him a shot at the CFFC vacant Welterweight Championship belt. He’d win that belt against Tanner Saraceno by submission (guillotine choke.) Brady would go on to Defend that title twice while also winning fights outside the promotion against Colton Smith and future Ultimate Fighter contestant, Gilbert Urbina.

The fact that Brady had never been defeated in either amateur or professional bouts caught the UFC’s brass’ attention. Brady made his UFC debut on October 18, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. Brady would face UFC veteran Court McGee and would win by unanimous decision. Even though the fight was not in Philadelphia the crowd, some who had traveled the distance from Philadelphia, chanted Brady’s name. He made a big splash that night.

Brady would go on to win his next three fights in the promotion earning a spot in the UFC’s welterweight rankings after his win against Jake Matthews at UFC 259 in march of 2021. Brady will face number seven ranked Welterweight Michael Chiesa in November of 2021, and hopefully will bring home the win to Philly.

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