UFC 216's Beneil Dariush wants to make Evan Dunham pay for calling him out

LAS VEGAS – Beneil Dariush isn’t offended by the fact Evan Dunham specifically requested him as an opponent for UFC 216. However, he plans to make him regret that decision.

“When somebody asks for me my first thought is, ‘Oh, he thinks I’m weak,'” Dariush told MMAjunkie at today’s UFC 216 media day.” Why else would you call somebody out if you don’t think you can beat them? That’s the most motivating part. This guy thinks he can beat me. Let’s get after it. Let’s do this. It’s the only thing on my mind.”

UFC 216 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Dariush (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) vs. Dunham (18-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) opens the pay-per-view main card following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass.

The fight is crucial for Dariush’s career. He’s coming off his worst loss to date, a brutal “Knockout of the Year” candidate against Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 106 in March. Dariush has never lost back-to-back fights before, and he has no intention of starting with Dunham.

Although Barboza put him on the highlight reel in one of the worst ways imaginable, Dariush said he hasn’t been deterred. He would have liked to return to competition sooner, but intends on taking out his pent up frustration on Dunham.

“Coming off a loss sucks,” Dariush said. “It’s not fun losing, and the way I lost especially. I feel I controlled the fight the entire time – then one second, one mistake – he capitalized on it, and he won the fight. I want to get back out there and just work, make a statement. I had to take a lot of time off, which is frustrating. I like to fight consistently. I just want to get back out there and move and show the world that I’m still here.”

The matchup with Dunham has potential for fireworks on the feet and ground. Both fighters have striking and grappling styles, which are largely effective for them, but it’s what happens when those two styles come together that will tell the tale.

Dariush, No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, believes he has the advantage over Dunham in any scenario, and that’s why he is confident he’ll get back on track with a statement win.

“We’re both jiu-jitsu school owners,” Dariush said. “With that being said, if it goes to the grappling, let’s do it, no problem with me. If we’re standing, same thing, no problem. The pressure is going to be the difference. Whether it be on the ground, whether it be standing. I have a different pressure, and I don’t think he’ll be able to last.”

For more on UFC 216, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.