As he did with Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev desires to go away little doubt who the higher fighter is when he rematches Arman Tsarukyan.
The UFC light-weight champion makes an attempt to defend his belt for a fourth time Jan. 18 in the principle occasion 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 5 years within the making, as the 2 fought in April 2019. The battle gained the Combat of the Evening award.
Now combating for a title, Makhachev doesn’t solely need to defend his belt. He additionally desires to cease Tsarukyan and never go to resolution, so he can silence any doubters.
“Possibly I underestimated him as a result of it was brief discover and no one is aware of him, and he don’t have title,” Makhachev instructed ESPN. “I by no means watched his fights. He did nicely in that battle, however I’d like to complete all of the questions, you realize?”
“With Volkanovski (rematch) I instructed everybody I needed to shut and end the questions and get the end. That’s why within the second battle. I’m going to be searching for the end and make everybody shut up.”
Makhachev will not be keen on rematches. Nevertheless, detractors say Tsarukyan may’ve overwhelmed Makhachev in 2019 if he had a full camp they usually count on him to dethrone the champ within the first UFC pay-per-view of 2025. That’s why Makhachev likes this matchup.
“Actually, I prefer to battle a second time,” Makhachev stated. “I don’t like rematch, however after I battle second time, I do know all the things that my opponent can do and isn’t going to be shock for me. Typically when anyone like Dustin did, defends wrestling, and he like defends my submission expertise it slightly bit surprises me. However after I know what my opponent going to do I’ve extra choices.”
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 detailed battle that went to a break up resolution and had Tsarukyan in some shut calls on the bottom. This offers Makhachev confidence he can submit Tsarukyan.
“Charles each spherical nearly completed him,” Makhachev stated. “Do some guillotine, do some triangle choke. Every little thing very shut. I believe I’ve extra probability.”
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