What's new at Ludus Martial Arts

We’re so proud of our team! Find out how they’ve been doing, as well as what else has been going on at our gym lately.

Beneil Dariush promises ‘absolute domination’ of former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 289

Beneil Dariush knows what’s in store when fighting Charles Olivera, and yes, he’s looking forward to it.

Longtime lightweight contender Dariush (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) takes on former champ Oliveira (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) on June 10 in the co-main event of UFC 289, which takes place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

It’s a fan-favorite matchup, and also one that could determine the next title challenger for reigning 155-pound titleholder Islam Makhachev.

Given the stakes, Dariush knows a measured approach is the best route to secure himself a title shot. However, the idea of going toe-to-toe with the Brazilian appeals very much to Dariush.

“Game plan wise it’s to be perfect and to not do that,” Dariush told MMA Junkie. “Fifteen minutes of staying consistent, of staying on the game plan and just being focused and keeping a steady pace, somewhat like the Gamrot fight. But, at the same time, I’ve watched his fights. I’ve studied his tape. And when I see the wild exchanges, the blood starts pumping.

“I hope I can be consistent with what I say, and I stick to the game plan, but I wouldn’t doubt, sometimes I kind of lose it, I wouldn’t doubt if in the fight I kind of lost it a little bit and chased the dog fight, and that part because that’s my favorite. That’s what I actually enjoy the most, getting into those dog fights. Controlling myself is the hard part.”

Oliveira has proven to be one of the most exciting fighters in the elite echelon of the lightweight division, as proven by his UFC record 19 stoppage wins inside the octagon. His wild, and at times frantic style, remains true on both the striking and grappling departments.

Dariush is as excited to exchange with Oliveira on the ground just as much on the feet.

“I actually get more pumped up about the grappling,” Dariush said. “I’m not going to lie, to get into some of the scrambles with him and to be able to kind of just go nuts on the ground, that’s just as exciting as the standup is. An opportunity to have this fight on the ground, I’m actually really looking forward to that because you see him submit so many people, and you wonder how good his jiu-jitsu is. But then at the same time, you see him lose when he shouldn’t lose in the grappling, so I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on him and getting a feel of his grappling.”

Ultimately, though, Dariush is looking to make it a one-sided affair.

“The focus of this fight is to be perfect,” Dariush said. “Personally, the way I see it is domination. I plan on dominating this fight. I want to remind people. because I think my last fight was kind of close. … The fight will be an absolute domination, is what it’s going to be. I will do what I plan to do, and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. That’s what I hope for.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva books boxing match with Chael Sonnen on June 15 in Brazil

Anderson Silva is returning to the ring against a familiar foe. The former UFC middleweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer will be boxing longtime rival Chael Sonnen on June 15 in São Paulo, Brazil. Silva and Sonnen both announced the news on through social media (via X): Anderson,...

Tom Nolan: First UFC win was ‘make or break’ moment, relieved to overcome mental adversity

LAS VEGAS – Tom Nolan placed a lot of pressure on himself heading into his second UFC bout, but breathed a sigh of relief after picking up his first win in the promotion. Nolan (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) faced Victor Martinez in the feature prelim bout of UFC Fight...

come and try a ludus mma class free!

We want to make sure that Ludus MMA is the right fit for you before asking you to commit to a membership.
That’s why we’d like to offer you a FREE ONE-DAY PASS to our gym.

With your FREE PASS, you can:

  • Try as many classes as you’d like,
  • Explore the facility
  • Talk to our coaches one-on-one about what you can expect as a member

© Copyright 2024 - Ludus Martial Arts - 730 Beach Blvd, Unit 105, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.

(904) 374-4186 / ludusmartialarts@gmail.com