The UFC returns to Austin, Texas for the fifth time for UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan, with a card loaded with talent.

There are a pair of lightweight clashes at the top of the card as Beneil Dariush and Arman Tsarykyan headline the event.

The co-main event is set to be a five-round lightweight bout between Bobby Green and Dan Hooker. This will mark just the third time that a non-main event and non-title bout has been scheduled for five rounds.

Here we pick out the crucial information for what is set to be a busy night of UFC action.

UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan date

UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan will take place on Saturday 2nd December 2023.

UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan time

The prelims are set to get underway at 21:00 UK time, with the main card expected to start around midnight.

UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan venue and location

The action will take place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The venue is a multi-purpose arena that is located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. 

Capacity for the arena, which replaced the old Frank Ewin Center and was opened in April 2022, is currently limited to 15,000. 

It is the home of the Texas Longhorns and has hosted a UFC card before, UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett took place in the arena on June 18th 2022. 

The likes of Harry Styles, John Mayer and Willie Nelson have all performed there, while the San Antonio Spurs also played two regular season games against the Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves there respectively earlier in the year - the first NBA regular season games ever to be played in Austin.

How to watch UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan

The entire card will be available to watch on TNT Sports.

UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan odds

Arman Tsarukyan is the 10/17 favourite, with Beneil Dariush available at 7/5 for victory.

Are there any belts on the line at UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan?

There are no belts on the line in this event.

Beneil Dariush record

Beneil Dariush has a professional mixed martial arts record of 22 wins and five losses, with one draw. Five of his wins have come by way of knockout, eight have been by submission and nine via the judge’s scorecards. 

Four of his five defeats have come by knockout, with the 34-year-old falling to submission once. 

Dariush is a UFC veteran, making his debut with the promotion in January 2014 with a submission victory over Charlie Brenneman. 

The Iranian-born fighter’s status has risen in recent years and he won Performance of the Night three times in a row across 2019 and 2020 in wins over Drew Dober, Frank Camacho and Drakkar Klose. 

Dariush also picked up a decision victory over the popular Tony Ferguson in May 2021 before getting the better of Mateusz Gamrot on the judge’s scorecards in his only fight of last year. 

Dariush is now on the comeback trail, however, after he was knocked out by Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 in June.

Arman Tsarukyan record

Arman Tsarukyan has a professional record of 20 wins and three losses from 23 bouts. Eight of his 20 wins have come by way of knockout, with five submission victories and seven wins on the judge’s scorecards. 

Two of the 27-year-old’s three losses have come via decision with the other a knockout defeat. 

Tsarukyan lost on his UFC debut against Islam Makhachev in 2019 but bounced back with a run of five victories in a row, winning Performance of the Night for his wins over Christos Giagos and Joel Alvarez. 

A loss to Mateusz Gamrot followed before successive victories over Damir Ismagulov and Joaquim Silva, the latter of which was in June.

UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan fight card

Main Card

• Beneil Dariush v Arman Tsarukyan (Lightweight)
• Dan Hooker v Bobby Green (Lightweight)
• Rob Font v Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
• Sean Brady v Kelvin Gastelum (Welterweight)
• Punahele Soriano v Dustin Stoltzfus (Middleweight)
• Khalil Rountree Jr. v Azamat Murzakanov (Light heavyweight)

Undercard

• Clay Guida v Joaquim Silva (Lightweight)
• Miesha Tate v Julia Avila (Women’s bantamweight)
• Zach Reese v Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
• Drakkar Klose v Joe Solecki (Lightweight)
• Steve Garcia v Melquizael Costa (Featherweight)
• Rodolfo Bellato v Ihor Potieria (Light heavyweight)
• Wellington Turman v Jared Gooden (Middleweight)
• Veronica Hardy v Jamey-Lyn Horth (Women’s flyweight)