Tag: Arman Tsarukyan

Charles Oliveira gunning for gold after UFC 309, whether Islam Makhachev or Arman Tsarukyan

Could Charles Oliveira win a rematch against Islam Makhachev and/or Arman Tsarukyan?

NEW YORK – [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] asked for a cage-side seat for whenever [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] throw down.

Promotion CEO Dana White obliged that request in short order, impressed by the performance Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) put forth in his win over Michael Chandler on Saturday at UFC 309.

Oliveira has fought both Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the past, but he doesn’t care who walks away victorious. The only thing that matters to him is a championship belt.

“For sure. I want to be a champion,” Oliveira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through a Portuguese-language interpreter at a post-fight news conference. “Everybody knows this. I’m just going to take a couple days off. Since the boss told you guys he’ll come pick me up, I’ll be right there. … I’m not looking for any of them. I’m looking for that belt. Whoever’s got that belt, that’s who I want.”

Oliveira has won two of his most recent three. The defeat was a close split decision loss to Tsarukyan in April. Hungry to once again claim the throne, Oliveira thinks he took one step closer to that with his win over Chandler, a victory he’s very pleased of in the immediate aftermath.

“This is MMA,” Oliveira said. “I think all you want to do is win. It only shows how much I evolved and how much I got better. Old Charles, or Charles from before, would have tightened up a couple grips there and wasted energy or would’ve exploded a little bit to get out of certain positions. All I want to do was win.”

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Making Saturday’s win all the more incredible, Oliveira revealed his camp was bumpy. He suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of his preparation for a period of time, but he still carried out his mission in the end.

“I didn’t want to talk about it before, but yes I did have a knee injury,” Oliveira said. “I spent a lot of time actually without training. Things were tough. I wanted to thank first and foremost my team for not letting me back down, not letting me quit, not letting me stop and making this happen.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

 

Charles Oliveira says Islam Makhachev ‘a little step ahead’ of Arman Tsarukyan

Charles Oliveira gave some insight on Islam Makhachev’s projected title defense vs. Arman Tsarukyan.

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] gave some insight on [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s projected title defense vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag].

Lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) is expected to make his next title defense against Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on Jan. 18 at UFC 311, although nothing is confirmed.

Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) suffered losses to both Makhachev and Tsarukyan. His setback to Tsarukyan was a razor thin one at UFC 300, but his submission loss to Makhachev in their title fight at UFC 280 was a much more definitive one.

“I’ve told everyone: I think I wasn’t there (against Makhachev). I didn’t fight Islam,” Oliveira told New York Post Sports through an interpreter.

If Tsarukyan is indeed next for Makhachev, Oliveira sees similarities in their game. However, he’s leaning towards Makhachev to get the job done once again.

“They have very similar games, and I think each has to come and look out for the same things,” Oliveira said. “You have to watch out for the striking because they do offer some striking and they also have to be very mindful of the ground game.

“It’s very, very similar styles, and I think that they have to watch out for the same things from each other. I think Islam is a little step ahead of Arman. I think he’s just stronger by a little bit, but when push comes to shove, any of them could win.”

Oliveira runs things back with Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) Nov. 16 in the UFC 309 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Oliveira won their first bout by knockout to claim the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262.

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Michael Chandler claps back at Arman Tsarukyan: ‘Islam Makhachev absolutely smokes him’

Michael Chandler returned fire after Arman Tsarukyan’s most recent jab.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] returned fire after [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s most recent jab.

Tsarukyan has continuously poked at Chandler’s fight IQ and recently told MMA Junkie that he’s an easy fight for Charles Oliveira. Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) rematches Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) in the Nov. 16 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is currently linked to a title fight with lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) on Jan. 18 at UFC 311, although nothing is confirmed. Chandler was respectful toward Tsarukyan for the most part in his response but made sure to sneak in his own jab right at the end.

“He’s just a young, hungry dude making his presence be known,” Chandler told the New York Post. “He’s matured. He’s got some great wins. His last win was over Oliveira, my next opponent, so he’s earned this title shot. This is going to be a rematch with him and Islam. He’s doing his thing, but yeah, he doesn’t like me, says bad things about me. After he beat Oliveira, I actually went back and congratulated him. It’s one of those things where I don’t hold any animosity towards anybody. I’ve had my spats with Poirier.

“I’ve had my spats with these different guys in the past. I enjoy competing against people whether they like me or don’t like me. I’m going to always operate like I don’t necessarily like my opponent, but I don’t have anything against him. I don’t go into the octagon with any malice or ill-will in my heart. That’s where I perform the best. Like I said, a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter, and that’s my own personal anecdote of my career thus far, but Arman’s doing his thing. I wish him well. I think Islam absolutely smokes him, but at least he’s got great hair.”

Chandler is seeking redemption against Oliveira. The pair met for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021, where Oliveira rallied to knock out Chandler in Round 2.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Arman Tsarukyan: Michael Chandler is ‘No. 1 easy fight for Charles Oliveira’ at UFC 309

Arman Tsarukyan thinks the UFC lightweight division is trending toward a championship rematch between himself and Charles Oliveira in 2025.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] thinks the UFC lightweight division is trending toward a championship rematch between himself and [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] in 2025.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) expects to claim the 155-pound belt from Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) during their expected meeting in January or February of next year. Before that happens, though, Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) will have a rematch of his own with [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

There has been no love lost between Tsarukyan and Chandler in recent months. Tsarukyan was one of the harshest critics of Chandler waiting nearly two years for a Conor McGregor fight to materialize, and Chandler has clapped back on multiple occasions.

Chandler claims his fight against Oliveira is a title eliminator and the winner will get whoever emerges with the belt between Tsarukyan and Makhachev. There’s potential for a fun build for a Tsarukyan vs. Chandler fight, but the current top contender just doesn’t see it happening.

“Michael Chandler is going to lose for sure,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie. “He’s the No. 1 easy fight for Charles Oliveira. He’s going to choke him out or knock him out. He’s easy money for Oliveira, so I’m so happy for him.”

Tsarukyan said if both he and Oliveira get the job done, they would run it back. Their first meeting took place at UFC 300 in April with Tsarukyan taking a split decision. He thinks the UFC brass would have no problem running it back.

“After the fight Oliveira is going to be the next after me,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m going to fight with Islam and then after that fight he’s for sure going to fight for the title. He has a big name, he was the champion and UFC loves him.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Arman Tsarukyan says Islam Makhachev ‘doesn’t deserve’ No. 1 pound-for-pound spot, backs Jon Jones

Arman Tsarukyan sides with UFC CEO Dana White on the pound-for-pound debate ahead of his title fight vs. Islam Makhachev.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] can’t help but think he should be just a few days from fighting [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] for the lightweight title at UFC 308. Instead, he’ll have to wait a few more months.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was ready and willing to fight Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) on Saturday’s card at Etihad Arena, but then the champion sustained a hand injury that prolonged his timeline for a return into early 2025.

Despite that, Tsarukyan flew to the event as a guest fighter to feel the energy of a massive fight week on a card now headlined by Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway. However, he admits he wishes it was him in the main event.

“We were supposed to fight here and then in December, but now they told me beginning of next year,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I’m getting ready and hopefully it’s going to be in January or February. It’s going to be a title fight for sure. I wish I fight this weekend because I don’t want to waste my time and wait, because I fought just one time this year. I wanted to fight now and then rest and then fight and defend my title next year.”

Tsarukyan’s showdown with Makhachev, whenever it happens, will be a rematch between the two top-ranked lightweights in the UFC. They first met in April 2019, with Tsarukyan losing a decision in the Fight of the Night. He took the bout on short notice and performed admirably, but both men have improved significantly since then.

It’s Tsarukyan’s expectation that the second encounter will be a competitive one, as well, but ultimately he is setting the bar high for himself, and that means finishing the job without the involvement of the judges.

“You can’t say it’s going to be an easy fight,” Tsarukyan said. “I try to think it’s going to be easy for me, and I don’t want to think it’s going to be a decision. I want to finish him.”

According to the UFC’s official rankings, Makhachev is currently the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the organization. UFC CEO Dana White has adamantly rejected that notion and emphatically backed Jon Jones for the position, and Tsarukyan tends to agree with that stance.

“No, he doesn’t deserve it,” Tsarukyan said. “I agree the No. 1 pound-for-pound is Jon Jones because he’s a legend. He’s still fighting. We’ll see. Next month he’s fighting and if he beats Stipe Miocic, he’s got to be No. 1 pound-for-pound. Then when he retires, of course it’s Islam.”

Tsarukyan, 28, said he expects the fight with Makhachev, 32, to be finalized in the coming days, with UFC 311 on Jan. 18 or UFC 312 on Feb. 12 being the most likely dates. If Tsarukyan captures the 155-pound strap, he would be 1-1 in head-to-head competition with Makhachev. Does that mean a trilogy would be next? He can’t say for sure, but Tsarukyan would most certainly be open to more fights with Makhachev going forward.

“For me, it doesn’t matter – I can fight with him three or four times,” Tsarukyan said. “I just want the title. After the title I can tell what I’m going to do. My goal is just to win the title and then after that I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

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Dana White says no interim lightweight title fight while UFC champ Islam Makhachev recovers

Dana White is not interested in creating a UFC interim lightweight title.

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] is not interested in creating a UFC interim lightweight title.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is currently sidelined due to a ligament injury in his hand. He most recently defended his title with a late submission of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June.

No. 1 contender [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was hoping to challenge Makhachev on Oct. 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi but will likely have to wait a few more months. Tsarukyan said he’s willing to take another fight in the meantime, as long as it’s for an interim title, but White shut down that possibility.

“No,” White said in an interview with Manouk Akopyan when asked about an interim lightweight title fight. “Islam’s fought so many times and is always willing to jump up and take a fight. So, no, there won’t be an interim title. “When he’s ready to go, we’ll go. We have plans. We’re looking at it right now on when he would fight.”

Tsarukyan told Red Corner MMA that he’s hearing his rematch with Makhachev will take place early next year. White was asked about the possibility of UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

“I don’t know (if Dec. 7 is likely),” White said. “We’re working on it.”

Tsarukyan edged out Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 to emerge as No. 1 contender. He faced Makhachev in his UFC debut April 2019, losing a back-and-forth unanimous decision. He has since gone 9-1 and is on a four-fight winning streak.

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Arman Tsarukyan open to interim UFC title fight if Islam Makhachev not ready by this year

Arman Tsarukyan hopes to fight for the UFC title whether or not Islam Makhachev is part of the equation.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] hopes to fight for the UFC title whether or not [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is part of the equation.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was offered lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) just two months after beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April, but turned it down due to the short notice. Makhachev fought Dustin Poirier instead at UFC 302, submitting him in Round 5.

Tsarukyan is expected to run things back with Makhachev next, but with Makhachev sidelined due to a ligament injury in his hand, he may have to wait. The streaking contender was hoping to challenge Makhachev at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.

“So my manager told me I’m going to fight in October vs. Islam,” Tsarukyan told Submission Radio. “And then he said that he got injured and now they moved that fight in December or maybe next year.

“So of course it’s sad because I already started training very hard, and I’m in shape, and I thought we’re going to fight in October, but it is what it is. So if it’s December for me, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to wait and train as much as I can.”

If the wait ends up stretching into next year, Tsarukyan wants to compete for an interim title.

“If Islam can’t fight this year, for sure I would like to fight for the interim title, and it doesn’t matter who is going to be in front of me,” Tsarukyan said. “Dustin Poirier, he’s a solid fighter and he has a lot of experience. Yeah, it would be great. Dustin, (Justin) Gaethje, Michael Chandler as well. But my focus is on Islam.”

Makhachev has made it clear that he’s not too interested in rematching Tsarukyan after beating him in 2019, but would fight him if offered. Tsarukyan, who’s won nine of his past 10, finds his comments laughable.

“He should fight with Paddy Pimblett – maybe he deserves more than me because I’m No. 1,” Tsarukyan said. “Because he can lose to me, that’s why he’s not interested in me. … I believe in myself. I’m going there to knock him out, and that’s it.”

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Beneil Dariush handicaps UFC champ Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan as ’60-40′ or ’55-45′ fight

Beneil Dariush thinks Arman Tsarukyan has what it takes to threaten Islam Makhachev’s UFC lightweight title reign.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] has what it takes to threaten [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s title reign.

It is expected that Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will challenge lightweight titleholder Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) later this year in a rematch of an April 2019 bout from UFC Fight Night 149, which saw Makhachev leave with a unanimous decision win a highly-competitive affair.

Both men were young in the UFC at that time, but have come a long way since and will run it back at the top of the game. Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) is one of Tsarukyan’s most recent opponents, having suffered a 64-second knockout loss in their main event at UFC on ESPN 52 in December.

Although Makhachev is the current No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dariush doesn’t think Tsarukyan is that far off.

“I thought he looked really good (against Charles Oliveira at UFC 300),” Dariush told MMA Junkie and other reporters during an interview on the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “I thought he looked really good against Charles. Charles is a very difficult fight for most people, and he was able to pull it off. I think he has a really good shot against Islam.”

Despite thinking Tsarukyan has a solid chance at taking the belt, Dariush struggles to fully commit to picking against Makhachev, and said the result will likely come down to some key variables.

“I would favor Islam, like a 60-45 or a 55-45,” Dariush said. “It’s going to be a close fight. I think Makhachev is better at energy conservation.”

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Video: Analyzing NAC’s recent rulings on Lopes-Ige last minute, Tsarukyan and Severino suspensions

Did the NAC make the right call sanctioning Diego Lopes vs. Dan Ige last minute? We discuss that and more on “Spinning Back Clique.”

The Nevada Athletic Commission has been under scrutiny this past week over some of its rulings.

The NAC handed out suspensions to [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], who was involved in an altercation with a fan during his walkout for UFC 300 in April, and [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag], who bit his opponent Andre Lima to get disqualified and cut from the UFC. But most notably, the NAC sanctioned a bout between Diego Lopes and Dan Ige hours before it happened at UFC 303.

Did the NAC make the right calls?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Farah Hannoun, Mike Bohn and host Gorgeous George discuss and make sense of their recent rulings.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/9bFDhZ86n44

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Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Alex Pereira stops Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, Diego Lopes’ future, NAC rulings, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses Alex Pereira’s win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, what’s next for Diego Lopes, NAC rulings, and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] has logged in his second title defense at light heavyweight, stopping violently [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] in a rematch that headlined UFC 303. This was not only a huge result for Pereira, but also for MMA in general, given the magnitude of Pereira’s achievement. Where does “Poatan” rank among the greatest fighters in history? Should UFC grant him a move to heavyweight? What’s next for him at light heavyweight? We discuss.
  • UFC 303 was also host of many other important results. In the co-main event, [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] defeated [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] in a fight that was made during the event as [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag], Lopes’ original opponent, pulled out due to illness. Also, [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] remained undefeated after beating [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] in a very close fight, among other results. We make sense of the main UFC 303 outcomes.
  • It was an interesting week for the Nevada Athletic Commission. Most notably, they were responsible for sanctioning and greenlighting the Lopes vs. Ige fight hours before the bout itself in an unprecedented move. They also issued their sanctions on [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], who swung at a fan during his UFC 300 walkout, and [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag], who was cut from the UFC after biting his opponent. What do we make of these calls? Was the right decision made? We discuss.
  • Lastly, UFC 303 and the NAC rulings weren’t the only things that happened last week. There were also many other interesting developments in the sport. Each panelist highlights a story that caught their attention from this past week.

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