The UFC's lightweight division features some of the top fighters in MMA. In a crowded division, the rankings have made it tough for some to have a clear shot at the title. Beneil Dariush attempts to regain momentum against a rising Arman Tsarukyan. They compete at UFC Austin on December 2, airing on ESPN+ in the U.S.
A nine-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu medalist, including a three-time gold medalist at the World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championships, he turned pro in 2009. Joining the UFC in 2014, Dariush is 16-5-1 in the octagon. Losing to Alexander Hernandez in 2018, Dariush then went on an eight-fight win streak, beating the likes of Tony Ferguson and Mateusz Gamrot. Before he could fight for a title, the 34-year-old lost his last fight against former champion Charles Oliveira in June.
Ranked fourth at lightweight per the UFC, Dariush is taking a risk fighting Tsarukyan, ranked eighth. However, he is treating this like any other fight.
“In terms of status, nothing – I gain nothing from this fight,” Dariush told MMA Junkie. “If I win, I don’t think my ranking will change. If I lose, I’m definitely going to get dropped quite a bit. But I’m an athlete who loves to compete, and I like to compete against the best people in the world. That’s what motivates me to compete.”
WATCH: UFC Austin: Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan on ESPN+
Tsarukyan turned pro in 2015. He joined the UFC in 2019 and is 7-2 with the promotion. After having his five-fight win streak snapped against Gamrot in 2022, he has won two in a row. The Armenian-Russian fighter last competed in June, beating Joaquim Silva via TKO.
Here's all you need to know about the event, from time, channel, odds, card, and more.
When is UFC Austin: Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan?
UFC Austin begins at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2. Here's how that translates to different timezones globally:
| Region | Date | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Start Time (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, December 2 | 4 p.m. ET | 7 p.m ET | 10 p.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, December 2 | 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Saturday, December 2 | 9 p.m. GMT | 12 a.m. GMT | 3 a.m. GMT |
| Australia | Sunday, December 3 | 8 a.m. AEDT | 11 a.m. AEDT | 2 p.m. AEDT |
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How to watch UFC Austin: Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Saturday, December 2 | ESPN+, ESPN |
| Canada | Saturday, December 2 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink |
| United Kingdom | Sunday, December 3 | TNT Sports |
| Australia | Sunday, December 3 | Main Event on Kayo |
The prelims and main card for UFC Austin will be available on ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service.
UFC Austin price: How much does Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan cost?
You can pay $10.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $109.99.
WATCH: UFC Austin: Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $10.99/mo |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $109.99/yr |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $14.99/mo |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $24.99/mo |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
Where is UFC Austin?
UFC Austin is in the Moody Center in Texas. The arena can hold up to 15,000+ people.
Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan betting odds for UFC Austin
Per Bet MGM, Arman Tsarukyan is the -300 favorite, while Beneil Dariush is the +240 underdog.
Beneil Dariush record, bio
- Nationality: Iranian-born American
- Born: May 6, 1989
- Height: 5-10
- Reach: 72 inches
- Total fights: 28
- Record: 22-5-1 with five wins via knockout, eight via submission
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Arman Tsarukyan record, bio
- Nationality: Armenian-Russian
- Born: October 11, 1996
- Height: 5-7
- Reach: 72 inches
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 20-3 with eights wins via knockout, five via submission
UFC Austin fight card
Main card
- Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan; Lightweights
- Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green; Lightweights
- Rob Font vs. Deiveson Figueiredo; Bantamweights
- Sean Brady vs. Kelvin Gastelum; Welterweights
- Clay Guida vs. Joaquim Silva; Lightweights
- Punahele Soriano vs. Dustin Stoltzfus; Middleweights
Prelims
- Miesha Tate vs. Julia Avila; Bantamweights
- Zach Reese vs. Cody Brundag; Middleweights
- Drakkar Klose vs. Joe Solecki; Lightweights
- Steve Garcia vs. Melquizael Costa; Featherweights
- Rodolfo Bellato vs. Ihor Potieria; Light Heavyweights
- Wellington Turman vs. Jared Gooden; Welterweights
- Veronica Hardy vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth; Flyweights
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