Tag: Islam Makhachev

UFC 311 title challenger Arman Tsarukyan: Islam Makhachev is not as good as people think

Ahead of his UFC 311 title fight, Arman Tsarukyan says he thinks Islam Makhachev is a bit overrated.

[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.

Islam Makhachev aims to ‘make everyone shut up’ by finishing Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311

Islam Makhachev wants to leave no doubt in his rematch vs. Arman Tsarukyan at 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.

Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘My heart is not OK’ with Islam Makhachev fighting Belal Muhammad

Khabib Nurmagomedov would rather not see UFC champions Islam Makhachev and Belal Muhammad fight.

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] would rather not see UFC champions [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] fight each other.

UFC lightweight champ Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is eager to move up to welterweight to chase dual-champ status, but with Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) as the current welterweight champ, his plans have been put on hold. Muhammad has trained with Team Nurmagomedov on numerous occasions. “The Eagle” admits he’d be uncomfortable helping Makhachev prep for Muhammad.

“If they had asked me to fight with Belal when I was an active fighter, (I would have said) no,” Nurmagomedov said on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman. “But for example, Belal and Islam, OK, you have to talk with them. My heart – my heart is not OK. It would be hard to prepare Islam to beat Belal.”

Nurmagomedov, who cornered Muhammad for his TKO win over Sean Brady at UFC 280, admits that it wouldn’t be easy to game plan for the welterweight champion, who has gone unbeaten in his past 11 fights.

“I don’t think that it’s ever going to happen,” Nurmagomedov said of Makhachev vs. Muhammad. “For me, it’s going to be very hard to prepare somebody to beat Belal. If you want to beat Belal, I think you have to stop him. Without a stoppage, it’s going to be very hard. What are you going to do?

“OK, if you take him down, it’s very hard to control him for 25 minutes, first of all. Second, it’s very hard to dominate him on striking game in all 25 minutes because he mixes it up. He doesn’t stay with you all 25 minutes. He wrestles and strike, wrestle and strike. He is good.”

Instead, Nurmagomedov suggests Muhammad fight Kamaru Usman, if the “Nigerian Nightmare” can rebound with a big win.

“I think I want to see that fight (Muhammad vs. Usman),” Nurmagomedov said. “I want to see it because Kamaru deserves this. People can say whatever they want. Kamaru deserves this fight. Of course, there is Shavkat (Rakhmonov) on the line, but I think if Kamaru beats one guy, somebody like Jack Della Maddalena, he could fight for the title.”

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Islam Makhachev’s coach: Beating Charles Oliveira would make Ilia Topuria a true lightweight

Javier Mendez is not interested in UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev fighting Ilia Topuria – for now.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] is not interested in UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] fighting [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] – for now.

Featherweight champion Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) teased a move up to 155 pounds and expressed interest in a potential fight with [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC).

Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) dismissed Topuria as an opponent, but Mendez thinks if Topuria beats former champion Oliveira, it would legitimize him as a lightweight title challenger.

“Charles is not an easy fight for anybody, and I slightly favor Ilia because of his power and his boxing precision,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “Charles is great. He’s good with everything. He’s coming with the knees, he’s coming with this. So you can never count Charles out. He was a world champion for a reason. He’s a great competitor still, and him and Arman’s fight, he came really close a lot of times to submitting Arman, too. So you can never count him out. That guy is still is a world beater, and he could definitely be a title contender again real soon.

“So let’s say he does fight Ilia. Then all of a sudden, Charles beats him. Then all of a sudden we have a rematch with Charles, which would be warranted at that point. So let’s see what happens. But him coming up in weight and wanting to stay at lightweight, it’s a good step in the right direction vs. coming up to weight then staying back down at featherweight. That doesn’t really do very much for Islam. So if (Topuria) fights another lightweight at lightweight, that means OK, now people will look at him like he’s a lightweight. He’s a true legit lightweight.”

Topuria’s head coach revealed that the main motivation behind a lightweight move is the weight cut. However, Mendez says Makhachev might walk around even lighter than Topuria.

Makhachev’s next title defense comes in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 headliner on Jan. 18.

“He’s motivated,” Mendez said of Topuria. “He’s a champion, for sure. He’s proven it. He’s gone up in weight. I also was told his coach said he was 187 (pounds). Islam, I don’t think has ever been that heavy. Islam, when he starts training camp two months out, Islam is about 179, 178.

“The guy is a great fighter. He’s got the best boxing hands in the business, I feel – best technical. He can do a lot of damage if he goes up in weight, but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m not interested in that fight whatsoever, at the present time. I’m interested in (Makhachev) defending against Arman, and then who knows – maybe the welterweight title is available at that particular time.”

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

Overreaction Time: Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov elite? Colby Covington in danger, more!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” on what happened at UFC 310 and what’s to come at UFC 311, UFC 312 and UFC Tampa.

The time for overreacting is here!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” at noon ET/9 a.m. PT as host Simon Samano and MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn debate these “overreactions” on the following topics in mixed martial arts:

  • UFC 310: [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] will STILL be flyweight champion at the end of 2025.
  • UFC 310: [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag]’s title reign is up next.
  • Shavkat Rakhmonov and [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] WILL meet again for the UFC welterweight title.
  • UFC 311: [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] SHOULD BE the main event over [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag].
  • UFC 311: Umar being favored over Merab is NUTS!
  • UFC 312: [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] getting a title shot over [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] is BULLSH*T.
  • A [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] rematch is a GREAT idea.
  • UFC Tampa: [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] won’t just beat [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], he’ll knock him out!

Watch the full episode in the video above.

Video: Nate Diaz throws water bottle at Islam Makhachev and team backstage at UFC 310 weigh-ins

Nate Diaz launched a bottle at Islam Makhachev and his team backstage at the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

[autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] threw a water bottle at UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and his team backstage at the UFC 310 weigh-ins.

It’s unclear what sparked the backstage disturbance at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, but Diaz was captured on video being corraled by security and yelling at Makhachev and members of his team. Makhachev was present for the UFC 311 on-sale press conference, which preceded the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

“Pull up, b*tch,” Diaz said before throwing a bottle in Makhachev’s direction. Makhachev’s teammates Tagir Ulanbekov and Magomed Zaynukov were in the area. Zaynukov responded by throwing an object back at Diaz as security ensured the moment did not escalate further.

Check out video of the incident below via ESPN MMA:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDQZ-sIy-1S/?igsh=cGM0Z2NkMHE2eXdy

Diaz has quite a reputation for throwing bottles and keeping security on high alert.

Last April, Diaz threw a water bottle at reality start Chase DeMoor at MF & DAZN X Series 6 in New Orleans, sparking chaos at the event. Back in 2016, Diaz and Conor McGregor threw cans and bottles at each other across the Copperfield Theater in Las Vegas at the UFC 202 press conference.

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Islam Makhachev not interested in potential UFC title fight vs. Ilia Topuria: ‘I don’t need his name’

Islam Makhachev says he’s not interested in giving Ilia Topuria a shot at his UFC lightweight title.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] seems to be done welcoming challengers from 145 pounds.

Makhachev, UFC lightweight champion, has defended his title twice against Alexander Volkanovski, who was then champion of the featherweight division. Still reigning and 2-0 against featherweight challengers, Makhachev says he’s done with those types of matchups, which means bad news for [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag].

“No, man. I’m tired of giving chance to small guys,” Makhachev said at Friday’s UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas. “I need my second belt. It’s nothing exciting. He’s a good fighter. He’s a good skills fighter, but I don’t want to give him a chance. I need second belt. That fight for what? For me, is nothing. It’s just his name, and I don’t need his name. I need the belt.”

Since winning the UFC featherlight belt against Volkanovski earlier this year, Topuria has been campaigning for a shot a becoming a two-division UFC champion. Most recently, Topuria said he’d like to return in Spring 2025 and take on Makhachev.

Topuria is coming off an impressive KO win over former champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 in October. The victory marked his first title defense.

On the other hand, Makhachev is set to headline UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. He takes on Arman Tsarykyan in a rematch that stems from a 2019 meet.

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

Photos: UFC 311 on-sale press conference

Check out these photos from the UFC 311 press conference with Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.

Check out these photos from the UFC 311 on-sale press conference with [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag], [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], which took place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas prior to the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins. (Photos by Nolan King, MMA Junkie)

UFC 311 video: Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan itch for rematch during faceoff

UFC 311 main event fighters Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan squared off Friday for the first time since their fight was announced.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] squared off Friday for the first time since their UFC 311 headliner was announced.

Following a news conference held at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) partook in an intense faceoff.

The lightweight title bout will serve as the Jan. 18 headliner for UFC 311 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The co-main event features a bantamweight title fight between champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, who were also present at Friday’s event.

Makhachev and Tsarukyan fought in April 2019. Makhachev defeated the then-UFC debutant Tsarukyan by unanimous decision. Since then, Makhachev has skyrocketed to championship status, with two defenses against Alexander Volkanovski and one against Dustin Poirier. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan has solidified himself as the next title challenger with key wins over Beneil Darisuh and Charles Oliveira.

Check out the video of the faceoff above and photos of the news conference in the gallery below.

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

Video replay: ‘UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2’ on-sale press conference

Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov will share the stage at Friday’s UFC 311 press conference.

LAS VEGAS – With tickets set to go on sale Friday, the promotion for the UFC’s first pay-per-view will kick into high gear with a UFC 311 press conference featuring the athletes from the two title fights.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is set to put his lightweight title on the line in a rematch with [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] in the headliner of the Jan. 18 card at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., while bantamweight champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] takes on undefeated [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] in the co-main event.

All four fighters will take the stage for a promotional press conference Friday at T-Mobile Arena, and MMA Junkie will have a live stream beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

Check out the video above to see Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) and Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) take the stage to answer questions and take part in their first faceoffs.

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