UFC 322: Dariush vs. Saint Denis delivers a compelling contender matchup held at a special 157.2 lb catchweight on November 15, 2025. It pairs veteran technician Beneil Dariush against surging finisher Benoît Saint Denis in a stylistic clash built on pressure, grit, and constant danger. With both fighters known for durability and finishing instincts, this is one of the most volatile fights on the card.
Beneil Dariush
Beneil Dariush (23–6–1) has long stood among the most respected lightweights of his era. His résumé features wins over Tony Ferguson, Mateusz Gamrot, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Drew Dober, and Frank Camacho. A second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dariush is known for his creative grappling, chain wrestling, and a southpaw striking rhythm that mixes awkward angles with surprising power.
Although he experienced knockout losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, he bounced back in June 2025 with a composed and convincing win over Renato Moicano. Dariush brings high fight IQ, relentless forward pressure, and the ability to create scrambles where his grappling becomes overwhelming.
Beneil Dariush – Last 5 Fights:
Win vs. Renato Moicano, Decision (Unanimous), UFC 317, Jun 28, 2025
Loss vs. Arman Tsarukyan, KO (Knee and Punches), UFC on ESPN, Dec 2, 2023
Loss vs. Charles Oliveira, TKO (Punches), UFC 289, Jun 10, 2023
Win vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Decision (Unanimous), UFC 280, Oct 22, 2022
Win vs. Tony Ferguson, Decision (Unanimous), UFC 262, May 15, 2021
Keys: Dariush needs to use his combination punching to close distance, transition to takedowns, and force grappling exchanges where he thrives. His experience in long, chaotic fights gives him an advantage the deeper the bout goes, as long as he survives the early pressure.
Benoît Saint Denis
Benoît Saint Denis (15–3, 1 NC) continues to rise as one of the most dangerous and relentless finishers in the division. The French Special Forces veteran pushes a pace few fighters can match, combining judo entries, smothering top control, and a sneaky submission arsenal. He owns stoppage wins over Maurício Ruffy, Kyle Prepolec, and Matt Frevola, along with several violent finishes before entering the UFC.
Even in defeat, such as against Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, Saint Denis showed extreme toughness and an unwillingness to back down. With most of his victories coming inside the distance, he enters every fight as a legitimate threat to overwhelm opponents through pace, pressure, and sheer force of will.
Benoît Saint Denis – Last 5 Fights:
Win vs. Maurício Ruffy, Submission (Face Crank), UFC Fight Night, Sep 6, 2025
Win vs. Kyle Prepolec, Submission (Arm Triangle Choke), UFC 315, May 10, 2025
Loss vs. Renato Moicano, TKO (Doctor Stoppage), UFC Fight Night, Sep 28, 2024
Loss vs. Dustin Poirier, KO (Punches), UFC 299, Mar 9, 2024
Win vs. Matt Frevola, KO (Head Kick), UFC 295, Nov 11, 2023
Keys: Saint Denis needs to force Dariush backward from the start and create scrambles where he can capitalize on top pressure or aggressive submissions. His best path comes from overwhelming the veteran before he can stabilize the pace.
Fight Breakdown
Both fighters are aggressive southpaws with elite grappling and proven finishing skills. Dariush thrives in prolonged scrambles and late-fight momentum shifts, while Saint Denis excels in fast starts where his pressure can drown opponents.
Expect heavy exchanges early. Dariush will look to time counters, hit reactive takedowns, and settle into dominant top positions. Saint Denis will aim to keep the fight frantic, pushing forward with strikes, clinches, and constant submission threats. The key question is whether Dariush can weather the early storm and force a more methodical pace.
Prediction
Saint Denis is extremely dangerous in the opening round, but Dariush has repeatedly shown the ability to survive chaos and turn fights in his favor with clean grappling and veteran composure. Once the bout enters deeper waters, Dariush should be better equipped to control grappling exchanges and win rounds through experience and efficiency.
Prediction: Beneil Dariush def. Benoît Saint Denis via Decision (Unanimous)
A win puts Dariush back on track toward the rankings, while a Saint Denis triumph would elevate the French contender into legitimate lightweight dark horse status.