UFC’s Beneil Dariush targets return after resting mind and physique

Beneil Dariush simply began easing his method again into contact coaching, and he’s able to guide a combat.

In 2023, Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) suffered back-to-back first-round knockout losses to Charles Oliveira in June, then Arman Tsarukyan in December. The setbacks compelled Dariush to take a while off to let his mind heal, which he took critically by solely present process gentle coaching up to now few months.

“The entire purpose was to be affected person and to relaxation my physique and most significantly my mind,” Dariush instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “All people round me was telling me to relaxation. So, I mentioned I wouldn’t do something too loopy.

“Simply grappling and hitting mitts for six months after which I might slowly begin to placed on the small gloves and do small-glove sparring, actually centered on grappling nonetheless. That began in Could, as in now. I had one session to date, I believe, and it was actually enjoyable. I missed it fairly a bit.”

Dariush is all the time desirous to compete, so having to take heed to his physique wasn’t straightforward. Ideally he’d wish to return in summer time when he’ll be receiving the 2024 Forrest Griffin Group Award on the UFC Corridor of Fame ceremony as a part of Worldwide Battle Week.

“The problem with me is I’m going to must kill the competitor within me in the future,” Dariush mentioned. “My want is all the time to combat. That’s really the issue. It will get in my method typically, but in addition it’s introduced me the place I’m. I can’t complain about it an excessive amount of. That being mentioned, clearly I wish to combat, however I’m additionally an individual who believes that God has his plans, and so they’re higher plans.

“If his plan is I’m achieved, I’m achieved, however at present I don’t suppose that’s the scenario. I believe I’ll be again quickly. If it was as much as me, it might have been yesterday. However clearly I’m attempting to be affected person, listening to my coaches, my spouse, my household, and hopefully both finish of summer time or early winter or one thing. I positively wish to get a combat in earlier than the yr ends is what I’m attempting to say.”