UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush joins CJ Perry and Jonathan Saba on the Identity Crisis podcast for a powerful, no-nonsense conversation about faith, fighting, and staying true to yourself in a sport built on hype.

From growing up in a small village in Iran to becoming one of the most respected lightweights in the UFC, Beneil breaks down the journey that shaped him - inside and outside the Octagon. He talks candidly about his viral Elon Musk callout that somehow turned into two Teslas, his refusal to play a trash-talk character, and why integrity matters more to him than popularity.

Beneil opens up about finding God during his lowest moments, how faith grounds him in a violent profession, and why he believes it actually makes him a better fighter. He also dives into the realities of the UFC business, controversial title shot snubs despite an 8-fight win streak, and his personal philosophy on violence vs. sport.

The conversation goes deeper as Beneil shares how video games nearly derailed his career, what it’s like balancing life as a father of three daughters while running a gym, and the recovery tools that helped him heal faster than expected - everything from sunlight and red light therapy to smarter training habits. Plus, yes, he finally admits his childhood crush on Stephanie McMahon.

This episode is raw, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest—an inside look at a fighter who refuses to be fake in an industry that rewards it.

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• INSTAGRAM ➤ https://www.instagram.com/identitycrisispodcast
• TIKTOK ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@identitycrisispodcast
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CJ :

• INSTAGRAM ➤ https://www.instagram.com/thecjperry
• TIKTOK ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@cjperrytiktok
• X ➤ https://x.com/TheCJPerry

JONATHAN:

• INSTAGRAM ➤ https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmsaba
• 
  

BENEIL DARIUSH

• INSTAGRAM ➤ https://www.instagram.com/beneildariush
• Train at Beneil’s Gym:Kings MMA – Anaheim, CA

CHAPTERS

• 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome
• 1:00 - The Viral Elon Musk Tesla Callout Story
• 4:06 - Growing Up in a Village in Iran
• 9:40 - Video Games Almost Derailed His Career
• 11:40 - Faith Journey: From Agnostic to Christian
• 16:35 - First Prayer & Transition to MMA
• 20:19 - The Meaning of Integrity
• 28:35 - Recovery Secrets: Red Light Therapy & Sunlight Benefits
• 36:00 - Sunscreen Debate & Health Through the Eyes
• 45:00 - What's Next in UFC Career
• 48:55 - UFC Politics & Staying Authentic
• 51:52 - Conor McGregor & UFC Going Mainstream
• 56:00 - Ronda Rousey's Impact on Women's MMA
• 1:01:00 - Would He Let His Daughters Fight?
• 1:06:20 - Closing & Where to Find Beneil

This Podcast is Produced by CJ Perry, Jonathan Saba, Ryan Lu, & Passes, Production Assistant Minna, And Show Writer Paul O’Brien. Production and Post by Rainbow Creative with Executive Producer Matthew “MoJo” Jones and Editing by Rainbow Creative

About Identity Crisis:

Welcome to Identity Crisis - a new podcast by WWE Legend CJ Perry and Hollywood producer Jonathan Saba. Here we separate the person from the persona, the schtick from the clicks, and get to unfiltered conversations about perception, reinvention, with some unlicensed intervention - hosted by two professional fakers who've made a living playing the part.