UPDATE: In a critical pre-fight development, lightweight veteran Beneil Dariush has been fined 20 percent of his purse after missing weight by 1.2 pounds ahead of his matchup at UFC 322. Dariush weighed in at 157.2 pounds for his non-title bout against Benoit Saint Denis at Madison Square Garden in New York. The limit for non-title lightweight contests is 156 pounds.
With the fight scheduled to take place as planned, UFC officials confirmed that Dariush’s fine will remain undisclosed, as fighter purses are not public records in New York. This marks the second time in his career that Dariush has missed weight, the first occurrence happening in 2020.
The stakes are high at UFC 322, as former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will step into the octagon for a welterweight title fight against Jack Della Maddalena. Makhachev weighed in at 170 pounds, making this his first move up in weight class as he aims for the status of a two-weight champion.
Additionally, former strawweight champion Zhang Weili is also seeking dual-title glory as she faces flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. Both champions weighed in at 124.6 pounds for their 125-pound title clash.
As UFC 322 approaches, fans and fighters alike are eagerly anticipating these high-stakes bouts. The event is set to showcase some of the most talented athletes in combat sports, and the implications of weight misses like Dariush’s add an extra layer of drama to an already intense fight night.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops, and watch how these fighters handle the pressure on July 15, 2023.
