UFC 311 kicked off with great excitement, and the hype went higher with the prelims, as Grant Dawson defeated Diego Ferreira via a unanimous decision. However, it’s the callout that reeled in the maximum attention from the fighting community. After all, the 30-year-old lightweight got ready to fight once again after just 2 months, in April 2025, at UFC 314. But who did he call out?

Well, Dawson seemed empathetic towards Beneil Dariush, who lost his fight at UFC 311. Well, he was supposed to fight Renato Moicano, but after Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of the main event due to his back pain, ‘Money’ got the chance to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship title. However, Dariush was left without an opponent, and without a fight. But not anymore. 

Dawson had always wanted to fight ‘Benny’. Even before the announcement of UFC 311, MMA Junkie reported that Dawson was going to call out Dariush. But he later learned that he was already booked to fight ‘Money’ Moicano. Nevertheless, come UFC 314, Kayesa Center, Miami, would be delighted to witness the battle between Dawson and Dariush. But only if ‘Benn’ accepts the fight.

But following the fallout of his UFC 311 bout, the 35-year-old lightweight fighter had different plans. Well, he was already asking for a fight against Dustin Poirier. Let’s take a look at what the Assyrian mixed martial artist had to say about his next matchup. 

Beneil Dariush wants high-profile fights

UFC 311 was supposed to mark ‘Benny’s comeback from a 2-fight losing streak. In a conversation with The Schmo, Dariush targeted the high-rankers. He named Max Holloway, Michael Chandler, and of course, ‘The Diamond’. ‘Benny’ said, “Ideally if I am super quick it would be March. Like if I can get you know get right back on the horse I would do March. But I think ideally I would fight in April and you know somebody ranked ahead of me.”

He continued, “And when I look at the rankings it goes Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, and Michael Chandler those are the availabilities. Mateusz Gamrot is there too but we have already fought and I would prefer to fight somebody new.”  Dariush indeed claimed that a fight against Poirier would be pretty ideal for him. However, the Cajun fighter had already hinted that he wasn’t interested in the matchup. 

Nevertheless, ‘Benny’ wasn’t complaining about his fallout. Dana White and Co. were actually ‘taking care’ of him with the show and win money. All he had to say about it was “I appreciate Dana and the UFC.”

Do you think Dariush will agree to fight Dawson at UFC 314? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.