Beneil Dariush will return to action as a sizeable betting underdog when he meets Quillan Salkilld in the co-main event of UFC Perth: “Della Maddalena vs. Prates” on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The lightweight bout is set for RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, with Dariush entering as a +350 underdog — the biggest underdog status of his UFC career. The No. 12-ranked lightweight has been an underdog in eight of his last ten fights.
“It’s not new to me, so it is fine,” Dariush said of his underdog role.
Dariush is 1-3 in his last four outings, with recent knockout losses coming against Benoit Saint-Denis, Arman Tsarukyan, and Charles Oliveira. Both he and Salkilld are described as grapplers, and Dariush expects that style to define the matchup.
“I plan on going out there and doing what I always have done. Underestimating me, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. If that’s how people are looking at it, we will see how it goes…. Experience is important but skill is what ultimately determines the fight.”
“I don’t know what his gameplan is, but one way or another, I think the fight will go to the ground,” he added. “Whether he wants to or I do, there will be some grappling exchanged because we both are grapplers. There’s a good chance of a finish.”
