Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush is one of the more complete fighters the lightweight division has produced, a competitor who evolved from a grappling specialist into a genuine threat everywhere a fight can go. His Brazilian jiu-jitsu is elite, his submissions are slick, and he developed surprising knockout power to go with it.

That well-rounded game powered a long winning streak that pushed him into title contention in one of the deepest divisions in the sport, with wins over names like Tony Ferguson, Mateusz Gamrot and Drew Dober. Tough losses to the division's top contenders followed, but he's remained a respected presence near the top. His record sits around 23-8-1.

For newcomers, Dariush is a great example of a fighter with no obvious holes - patient, dangerous on the mat and on the feet, and capable of finishing a fight in a moment. He's also one of the division's most respected and humble veterans.