Beneil Dariush, Drakkar Klose (©UFC)

Training at Kings MMA in Anaheim, California, United States, Beneil Dariush, 30, was one of the winners at “UFC 248.” It was the Assyrian-American mixed martial arts veteran’s 12th win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Featuring 11 MMA matches, including two title bouts, the UFC held “UFC 248” at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on March 7, 2020. In the ninth bout of the evening, Dariush competed in the lightweight division against Drakkar Klose, 31, who is training out of Fight Ready MMA in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.

Jason Herzog served as the referee. He put a stop to the lightweight contest at 1 minute in the second round when Dariush knocked out Klose via punch.

Losing to Dariush downgraded the professional MMA record of Klose to 11 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. On the other hand, the Assyrian-American MMA fighter now has 18 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.

“I did contemplate retirement and to be here now it’s crazy,” Dariush said in a “UFC 248” post-fight interview. “(Having) four fight win streak and three finishes, I don’t know (what to do). I thank God everyday for this.”

Aside from the U.S., 11 other countries were represented at “UFC 248” namely Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, Denmark, Georgia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Poland, Russia and the U.S. Dariush and Klose were two of the 10 representatives of the U.S.

In the main event of the evening, UFC Middleweight Champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya, 30, of Auckland, New Zealand successfully defended his belt from Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero, 42, of Pinar del Rio, Cuba and Miami, Florida, USA. The Nigerian-Kiwi champion won via unanimous decision.

In the co-main event, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, 32, of Olsztyn, Poland challenged UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion “Magnum” Zhang Weili, 30, of Hebei, China. The Chinese defending champion won via split decision.

Born in Urmia, Iran on May 6, 1989, Dariush has been competing professionally since 2009. The first 11 UFC opponents he defeated were Charlie Brenneman, Anthony Rocco Martin, Diego Ferreira, Daron Cruickshank, Jim Miller, Michael Johnson, James Vick, Rashid Magomedov, Thiago Moises, Drew Dober and Frank Camacho.