As the UFC’s 2023 calendar draws to a close with just a handful of events remaining before we start anew next year, the organisation has laid out more than a few interesting matchups to keep us busy throughout the festive season. 

Las Vegas’ UFC 296 on December 16 has numerous box office showdowns included on the fight card, including Leon Edwards’ welterweight title defence against Colby Covington and Vicente Luque taking on Ian Machado Garry, while there is also a one more UFC Apex card to come before that on December 9.

But before all of those, this weekend’s UFC return to Austin, Texas, comes complete with a fascinating 155-pound showdown featuring one of the lightweight division’s most battled-tested veterans, Beneil Dariush, against the teak-tough Arman Tsarukyan.

Prior to defeat to championship calibre fighter Charles Oliveira in June, Dariush, 34, rolled off eight consecutive victories in the shark-tank lightweight division, one of which came against the dangerous Brazilian fighter Diego Ferreira, who came into the showdown on the back of a 17-2 career record.

You can check that one out below:

–