Huge underdog Beneil Dariush warns fars to don’t ‘underestimate’ him at UFC Perth – ‘Not a good idea’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Beneil Dariush of Iran enters the Octagon in a lightweight fight during the UFC 322 event at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Don’t count out “Benny” just yet.

No. 12-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Beneil Dariush looks to turn back the clock against surging prospect Quillan Salkilld in the co-main event of UFC Perth this weekend (Sat., May 2, 2026) inside RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Dariush enters as a massive +350 underdog — the biggest of his career — signaling that oddsmakers and fans expect him to get overwhelmed by the rising Australian. It’s a familiar position, though, as the veteran has been an underdog in eight of his last 10 fights.

“It’s not new to me, so it is fine,” Dariush told BJPENN.com. “I plan on going out there and doing what I always have done. Underestimating me, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. If that’s how people are looking at it, we will see how it goes…Experience is important but skill is what ultimately determines the fight.”

Much of the concern around Dariush stems from recent knockout losses, but context matters — his setbacks have come against elite names like , (), and ().