UFC Predictions: UFC 262: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler Predictions & Picks

#2 UFC lightweight division: Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush

Can Tony Ferguson get back to his best at UFC 262 when he faces Beneil Dariush?

To say this is a big fight for Tony Ferguson would be an understatement. Once considered the most feared man in the division, 'El Cucuy' suffered two defeats in 2020, breaking a long winning streak that dated back to 2013.

More worryingly, he literally didn’t look like the fighter he once was in either fight, taking a real beating from Justin Gaethje and being thoroughly dominated by Charles Oliveira.

Beneil Dariush is a good match for Ferguson, at least on paper.

The Iranian grappler has improved his striking over the years to the point that he’s a very real threat in the striking game. On the ground, Dariush's Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills can match up with any lightweight on the UFC roster.

However, Dariush simply isn’t the most natural athlete and doesn’t really have any kind of explosive ability. He can knock opponents out and submit them too, but it’s hardly surprising that the Iranian's four UFC losses have come to superior athletes like Edson Barboza and Alexander Hernandez.

If Ferguson were at his physical peak, you’d probably expect him to push the pace too hard for Dariush to match, eventually breaking him down and finishing him on the feet.

But does that 'El Cucuy' even exist now, after the myriad of injury problems and brutal fights he’s had to go through? It’s hard to say. Ferguson is 37 years old and may well be past his physical prime now.

Overall, this is a tricky one to pick because of how good Ferguson once was and the fact that he was the kind of fighter who would’ve easily handled Dariush even two years ago.

However, after seeing him trucked so badly by Gaethje and Oliveira, it’s hard to pick 'El Cucuy' in good conscience.

Therefore, the pick is Dariush by unanimous decision.

The Pick: Dariush via unanimous decision