TLDR
- Benoit Saint-Denis is the betting favorite at -180 to -190 against Beneil Dariush’s +145 to +150 at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025
- Dariush, 36, is coming off a decision win over Renato Moicano in June but has been knocked down in his last three fights and shows signs of aging
- Saint-Denis has won two straight fights including a second-round submission of Mauricio Ruffy in September and brings relentless pressure with improved striking
- Both fighters are elite grapplers with Dariush being a no-gi BJJ world champion and Saint-Denis averaging strong takedown numbers with 24 in 10 UFC fights
- Experts predict Saint-Denis will win due to his momentum, durability, and Dariush’s declining chin, with the fight expected to go past 1.5 rounds
Full UFC 322 Fight Card Odds
Main Card:
- Jack Della Maddalena (+220) vs. Islam Makhachev (-275) – Welterweight Title
- Valentina Shevchenko (-130) vs. Zhang Weili (+110) – Flyweight Title
- Sean Brady (-140) vs. Michael Morales (+115) – Welterweight
- Leon Edwards (+146) vs. Carlos Prates (-180) – Welterweight
- Beneil Dariush (+157) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (-193) – Lightweight
Prelims:
- Bo Nickal (-229) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (+184)
- Roman Kopylov (+153) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (-187)
- Erin Blanchfield (-260) vs. Tracy Cortez (+208)
- Angela Hill (+379) vs. Fatima Kline (-520)
- Pat Sabatini (-134) vs. Chepe Mariscal (+110)
Early Prelims:
- Malcolm Wellmaker (-548) vs. Ethyn Ewing (+400)
- Kyle Daukaus (-479) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (+375)
- Baisangur Susurkaev (-965) vs. Eric McConico (+619)
- Viacheslav Borshchev (+138) vs. Matheus Camilo (-163)
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Main Card Start: 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT / 3:00 AM GMT (Sunday)
Full Fight Analysis
Beneil Dariush and Benoit Saint-Denis will open the UFC 322 main card on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The lightweight bout features two ranked fighters heading in opposite directions in their careers.
Dariush enters the octagon at 23-6-1 as the underdog. The 36-year-old veteran snapped a two-fight losing streak with a decision victory over Renato Moicano in June.
That win marked his only fight in nearly two years. Before that, he suffered knockout losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan.
Saint-Denis comes in at 15-3 with one no-contest as the favorite. The 29-year-old Frenchman has won his last two fights after going 0-2 in 2024.
His most recent victory came in September at UFC Paris. He submitted Mauricio Ruffy in the second round as an underdog.
Grappling Credentials
Both fighters bring elite grappling skills to the cage. Dariush is a former Brazilian jiu-jitsu no-gi world champion.
He has only been submitted once in his 30-fight professional career. Dariush averages almost two takedowns per fight.
Saint-Denis has recorded 24 takedowns in his 10 UFC fights. That’s impressive considering he has only seen the third round once in his UFC career.
🚨 UFC 322 weigh-ins ⬇️
Michael Morales – 170.6lbs
Sean Brady – 169.4lbs
Benoit Saint Denis – 155.6lbs
Beneil Dariush – 157.2lbs (forfeits 20% of fight purse) pic.twitter.com/GhsbQOwwFc— Clement (@88cIement) November 15, 2025
When he gets fights to the ground, he applies heavy pressure. He works well toward submissions and has shown no quit in him.
Dariush is considered one of the best scramblers the lightweight division has ever seen. His ability to escape deep takedown attempts stands out on film.
Age and Durability Concerns
The biggest question mark surrounds Dariush’s current condition. He has been knocked down in each of his last three fights.
His movements have slowed considerably at 36 years old. His chin, once reliable, now appears vulnerable against power strikers.
Moicano knocked him down in their June fight. That was concerning because Moicano had never scored a knockdown as a lightweight before that bout.
Dariush looked sloppy in that victory. He appeared to be breathing heavy and a step behind at times.
Saint-Denis has shown a granite chin throughout his career. He absorbed punishment from Dustin Poirier in a knockout loss but demonstrated durability.
His relentless forward pressure never stops. He lands nearly two more strikes per minute than Dariush at a higher accuracy rate.
Striking and Coaching Changes
Dariush remains the more technical striker on paper. He has victories over fighters like Scott Holtzman and James Vick using his striking.
However, his speed and volume have declined with age. He now relies more heavily on his wrestling to secure victories.
Saint-Denis started working with new coach Nicolas Ott this year. Ott also trains Nassourdine Imavov, one of the best strikers at middleweight.
The coaching change showed results in his fight against Ruffy. Saint-Denis displayed more patience and measured striking than in previous bouts.
⚔️ Benoît Saint Denis is back for war! ⚔️
The “God of War” 🇫🇷 heads into UFC 322 with a 13-3-0 record, ready to face Beneil Dariush on Nov 16, 2025
📊 3 wins in his last 5, all by finish — pure aggression every time he steps in the cage 🔥
Relentless pace. Ruthless ground… pic.twitter.com/ndyXSfsVjL— Fight Hub (@FightHub_App) November 15, 2025
He still brings the same aggressive style. But now he mixes it with improved technical skills and better timing on his shots.
Nobody has controlled Saint-Denis for more than 19 percent of any 15-minute UFC fight. His wrestling defense has proven solid against takedown attempts.
Saint-Denis has three knockouts in his seven UFC victories. His power presents a real threat to Dariush’s compromised chin.
The oddsmakers have installed Saint-Denis as the -180 to -190 favorite. Dariush sits at +145 to +150 as the underdog.
The over/under is set at 1.5 rounds. The over is favored at -150 to -166 while the under pays +130.
Saint-Denis has not finished a fight before the third round recently. Dariush has not finished anyone since 2020.



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