Like many other people, Beneil Dariush is confused as to what’s going on with the backup role for the upcoming UFC lightweight title fight.
The featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski said he’s the backup fighter for the UFC 280 main event between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, which is set to go down on October 22 in Abu Dhabi. This was a surprise for Dariush, as he was under the impression that he was the guy for the job.
Dariush (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC), who’s on a seven-fight winning streak, competes in a lightweight contest on the same card. He’s scheduled to take on Polish contender Mateusz Gamrot.
“Honestly, I’m confused,” Dariush told Sirius XM. “I don’t know if he’s playing games or the UFC is playing games, because I was told I’m the fill in.”
“That’s the whole point of having another lightweight fight on that card, just in case something goes wrong, so I don’t understand what’s going on here. I’m trying to get to the bottom of it, but ultimately I have one goal and that’s Gamrot. But I really thought I was the fill in, that’s what I was told.”
