"People don't give him enough credit for his standup" - Beneil Dariush explains why "different puzzle" Islam Makhachev is a harder test for Alexander Volkanovski than Charles Oliveira

Islam Makhachev will take on former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira this weekend at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. The two will headline the event and fight for the vacant lightweight championship.

Amidst weight-cutting concerns sparked by comments from both camps, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has emerged as the backup fighter for the UFC 280 main event.

No.6-ranked lightweight contender Beneil Dariush weighed in on how the Australian would fare against either Charles Oliveira or Islam Makhachev. In an interview on Submission Radio, Dariush said:

"I think, stylistically, he'll do better with Charles. Because, striking defense, Volk is actually amazing. I'm very impressed with his striking defense and it would be really cool to see somebody like Charles Oliveira - who is like, all offense, absolute offense all the time. Like, there's no defense in his game, which would be cool to see against somebody like Volkanovski, who can take your offense and turn it into a counter."

Dariush then praised Islam Makhachev for being better than many perceived him to be:

"Against Islam, it would really be how good is his grappling. How good is his takedown defense and is he able to stop that and is he able to figure out the puzzle as far as Islam goes in the standup. Because Islam, people don't give him enough credit for his standup. He has good standup, but the thing is, it's very defensive. And it's a different defense than Volk, because his focus is the takedown. Everything he does, is ultimately just the set up to takedown. He's a different puzzle."

Watch Dariush's full interview on Submission Radio below:

---

Khabib Nurmagomedov originally expected Beneil Dariush to replace Charles Oliveira

Beneil Dariush himself was touted as a replacement for the lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.

After the Iranian-born American suggested that he'd been offered the backup role, Makhachev's mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov tweeted out his belief that 'Do Bronx' would not make it to Abu Dhabi, leaving the Russian's fellow Dominance MMA-managed athlete promoted to the headliner:

“I just think Charles Oliveira will not show up in Abu Dhabi and the UFC will replace Charles with Beneil Dariush. Regardless of who the opponent will be, @MAKHACHEVMMA is on his way to becoming the best in the world #ufc280.”

Check out his tweet below:

Although Alexander Volkanovski has since been confirmed as the backup fighter for UFC 280's main event, talk of a replacement role for Dariush goes to demonstrate his place high up the lightweight ladder.

Dariush himself will take on No.9-ranked Mateusz Gamrot on the same main card as the title fight. Already a highly regarded fighter, a winning result for Dariush could leave him next in line for a shot at the title.