Beneil Dariush entered the UFC Hall of Fame as a part of the 2024 class, as the fifth winner of the Forrest Griffin Community Award.
Dariush received praise for the work he has done with multiple organizations to help those living in the likes of Iraq and Haiti.
Standing on the stage alongside legends of the sport, the active lightweight contender came away with a few moments that he will always remember fondly.
One of those was being able to stand there alongside Frankie Edgar, who was a big inspiration for his own career, and was inducted into the Modern Wing.
Another moment was an observation that Dariush made about some former rivals burying the hatchet with one another.
Beneil Dariush Recalls Heart-warming Exchange Between Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva & ‘Shogun’ Rua
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dariush reflected on one particular moment that stayed with him from the Hall of Fame ceremony.
Chael Sonnen has had his fair share of iconic rivalries, with many of his biggest fights coming against Brazilian opponents.
International Fight Week saw Sonnen get inducted for his first fight with Anderson Silva, alongside two other Brazilian legends in Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Dariush recalled how he was able to watch them all interact with one another as he reflected on how much their dynamic has changed over the years.
“The other cool part was “Shogun” was there and Wanderlei was there, we’re all from the same gym right. Three guys from basically Kings or Chute Boxe or from that lineage to get awards was cool and finally, at one point, I saw, it was like this.
“Wanderlei was sitting here, “Shogun’s” here and Chael was right here in the middle and I’m behind them all and I just thought to myself, bro, 10 years ago if this situation was happening, I don’t think Chael would be getting out of this room alive but look at them now. Hanging out, speaking to each other and just being gentlemen. That was probably the coolest part to see, everybody’s moved on from the drama from previous.”
