Tag: Arman Tsarukyan

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is considered by most, except UFC CEO Dana White, as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Yet, despite his accolades and praise, [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] finds Makhachev to be a bit overrated.

That’s right, Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who challenges Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) for his UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 311 in January, thinks the public has made Makhachev more than what he is.

“He’s not that good like people think,” Tsarukyan told ESPN in a recent interview. People think he’s unbeatable, like crazy wrestling, but like I took him down when I was 22 years old.”

Makhachev and Tsarukyan fought back in April 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s UFC debut, which he took on short notice. The fight ended up going all 15 minutes, with Tsarukyan coming up short in a unanimous decision, but putting on an admirable effort.

Given the nature of their first meet, Tsarukyan is confident he’s the only guy at 155 pounds equipped to beat Makhachev.

“First of all, I know how to wrestle very well,” Tsarukyan said. “Second, I’m young and hungry. I’ve never had the belt, so it drives me very well. I have a lot of energy for the trainings and I believe I’m the guy who’s going to beat him. But the most important thing is that I’m very hungry. I want that belt so much. It’s a dream. When I got in the UFC, I was thinking about that. I’ve been thinking about it for five years.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.

As he did with Alexander Volkanovski, [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] wants to leave no doubt who the better fighter is when he rematches [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag].

The UFC lightweight champion attempts to defend his belt for a fourth time Jan. 18 in the main event of UFC 311 in Inglewood, Calif.. This bout between Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is a rematch five years in the making, as the two fought in April 2019. The fight won the Fight of the Night award.

Now fighting for a title, Makhachev does not only want to defend his belt. He also wants to stop Tsarukyan and not go to decision, so he can silence any doubters.

“Maybe I underestimated him because it was short notice and nobody knows him, and he don’t have name,” Makhachev told ESPN. “I never watched his fights. He did well in that fight, but I’d like to finish all the questions, you know?”

“With Volkanovski (rematch) I told everyone I had to close and finish the questions and get the finish. That’s why in the second fight. I’m going to be looking for the finish and make everyone shut up.”

Makhachev is not fond of rematches. However, detractors say Tsarukyan could’ve beaten Makhachev in 2019 if he had a full camp and they expect him to dethrone the champ in the first UFC pay-per-view of 2025. That’s why Makhachev likes this matchup.

“Honestly, I like to fight a second time,” Makhachev said. “I don’t like rematch, but when I fight second time, I know everything that my opponent can do and is not going to be surprise for me. Sometimes when somebody like Dustin did, defends wrestling, and he like defends my submission skills it a little bit surprises me. But when I know what my opponent going to do I have more options.”

Tsarukyan earned his title shot when he defeated former champion Charles Oliveira in a title eliminator bout at UFC 300 in April. It was a close fight that went to a split decision and had Tsarukyan in some close calls on the ground. This gives Makhachev confidence he can submit Tsarukyan.

“Charles every round almost finished him,” Makhachev said. “Do some guillotine, do some triangle choke. Everything very close. I think I have more chance.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.