Islam Makhachev isn’t leaving it to the judges this time round.
The UFC light-weight champion is ready for the fourth protection of his title as he takes on Arman Tsarukyan in the principle occasion of UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This can be a rematch of their April 2019 encounter that Makhachev gained by unanimous determination.
That bout was Tsarukyan’s UFC debut, a possibility he took on quick discover. Regardless of the end result, Tsarukyan was aggressive all through, and he’s earned an opportunity to avenge that loss by successful 9 of his previous 10 fights.
In an interview with shut good friend and teammate Daniel Cormier, Makhachev spoke about how Tsarukyan has advanced since their first combat whereas additionally clearing up what he feels are misconceptions about the way it performed out.
“In fact, improved, he has extra expertise, however identical expertise,” Makhachev stated on ESPN. “He beat all the blokes as a result of they don’t have wrestling, however when somebody has good wrestling expertise, he at all times has hassle. With [Mateusz] Gamrot, with me, and it’s going to be once more. He has good wrestling expertise, but when someone defends, they’ve issues.”
In addition to Makhachev, Mateusz Gamrot is the lone loss on Tsarukyan’s file. The light-weight contenders battled in probably the greatest fights of 2022, a back-and-forth five-round affair that Gamrot edged out on the scorecards.
The loss did little to harm Tsarukyan’s status as he went on to beat high contenders Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush as a part of a four-fight win streak. He’s additionally usually famous as arguably the hardest combat of Makhachev’s UFC profession, a notion Makhachev dismisses, citing his epic UFC 284 primary occasion conflict with then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“[Tsarukyan] was one of many hardest fights, after all, however it’s not the hardest combat as a result of the 5 rounds with Volkanovski, it was loopy,” Makhachev stated. “It was coronary heart charge greater than 200, it’s referred to as, you realize? However perhaps I used to be underestimating [Tsarukyan] as a result of he was short-notice, no one is aware of him, and he don’t have a reputation. I by no means watched his combat and he did nicely in that combat, however I like to complete the previous questions.
“When I’ve the combat with Volkanovski, I informed everyone I’ve to complete the questions and end. That’s why the second combat I can be in search of the end and make everyone shut up.”
Makhachev took loads of knowledge from his first combat with Tsarukyan and he’s paid shut consideration to the No. 1 contender’s work as he’s climbed his option to a title shot.
Particularly, he seen moments within the Tsarukyan-Oliveira combat the place “Do Bronx” had Tsarukyan at risk. Ought to he see those self same openings, Makhachev is assured he seals the deal.
“The primary combat I don’t know his background,” Makhachev stated. “He defends my wrestling, he’s powerful, that’s why he gave me a tough time. However now I do know all the things that he can do. … Charles, each spherical, nearly completed [Tsarukyan]. Do some guillotine, do some triangle choke, all the things very shut, however I believe I’ve extra likelihood.”
