Beneil Dariush had a rough 2023.
After winning eight straight fights in one of the promotion’s deepest divisions, the No. 7-ranked lightweight contender suffered back-to-back losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan and has yet to make an appearance in 2024.
Blame lingering knee issues.
Dariush revealed to Submission Radio that his knee issues began around March, but it wasn’t until April that it started to worsen. Initially, he experienced some pain and discomfort, which gradually escalated to the point where his knee would lock. Although he had been aware of his torn meniscus for a while, it had never caused any problems until now. Dariush attempted various treatments such as physical therapy and PRP, which provided some improvement. However, he still faces challenges when training intensively as his knee tends to lock up either during or after workouts. This ongoing issue is causing him stress and concern.
That’s probably why Dan Hooker moved on from this gory goal.
Dariush expressed his concerns about entering a camp under such circumstances, stating that it is far from ideal. He has been actively seeking medical appointments to explore potential solutions. He has heard that shaving the tear can provide instant relief and allow him to resume training immediately, which would be ideal. However, he acknowledges that not all tears are the same, and if it is not an ideal tear, he would need to undergo a repair surgery, which would require a six-month recovery period. Therefore, he is considering skipping the repair and possibly opting for meniscus removal instead. He understands that removing the meniscus may lead to complications in the future, but it would allow him to finish and return to fighting sooner.
Preferable someplace with low taxes.
Dariush explained that if he is allowed to have a scope, he can return to training within a couple of weeks and be back in action by the end of the year. He mentioned that the key factor is the extent of the meniscus damage and if it can be fixed through a shaving procedure. However, if sewing is required, he will have to consider his options. One possibility is to continue strengthening his leg and fight without surgery, while the final option is to have the meniscus removed altogether.
In May, Dariush celebrated his 35th birthday, with a professional record of 22 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw.
