Islam Makhachev thinks he can stop Arman Tsarukyan within range in their next fight.
Makhachev will look to defend the lightweight strap against Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 on January 18th at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The two fought in 2019, with Makhachev winning a hard-fought decision. Tsarukyan was rushed into his UFC debut against Makhachev and showed impressive takedown defense against Dagestani. The bout is widely considered by some to be Makhachev’s toughest fight to date, but the lightweight champion disagrees. Makhachev claims Tsarukyan was a tough matchup, but his toughest match was a unanimous decision win over Alexander Volkanovskiy in his first title defense. Makhachev also believes that the first match with Tsarukyan was competitive, as he may have underestimated the “Akhal Karakets”.
“Of course it was one of the toughest matches, but not the toughest,” Makhachev told Daniel Cormier. “Because it’s 5 rounds. [fight] “The fight with Volkanovski was crazy, his heart rate was over 200. But maybe I underestimated him because it was short notice and no one knew him. He doesn’t have a name and I’ve never seen him play.”
According to UFCStats.com, Tsarukyan had one takedown against Makhachev, compared to the latter’s four takedowns. When Cormier accused Makhachev of getting taken down three times by Tsarukyan, the Dagestani protested that no one, including “DC”, could give him three takedowns. Although he had little information on Tsarukyan before the first fight, Makhachev believes he knows enough to finish off the now 27-year-old.
“Three times there was no one, brother,” said Makhachev. “Even you can’t beat me three times…The first fight I don’t know his background. He defends my wrestling. He’s tough and he gives me a hard time. But I don’t know his background. I know all about what it can do…I think so. [I can finish him]. charles [Oliveira]nearly finishing him every round. Guillotine, triangle choke, everything is very close. But I think I have more power.”
Tsarukyan has won four straight and has two finishes, including a split decision victory over Charles Oliveira in a title eliminator at UFC 300 in April of this year. Makhachev, meanwhile, won the title against Oliveira in 2022, then defended it twice against Volkanovski, and most recently against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June.
