Within the first UFC pay-per-view occasion of 2025, light-weight champion Islam Makhachev headlines UFC 311 in a rematch in opposition to in opposition to high contender Arman Tsarukyan.
The 2 first fought at UFC Combat Night time 149 in April 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s promotional debut. Makhachev gained by way of unanimous determination, successful all three rounds on two of the judges’ scorecards. Practically six years faraway from their first struggle, the 2 will rematch on the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
“I knew 5 or 6 months in the past that I will struggle with Arman as a result of the he is the No. 1 contender proper now. And he actually deserves to struggle for the title,” Makhachev mentioned in an interview with former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier.
Makhachev and Tsarukyan are completely different fighters than they had been 5 years in the past of their first struggle. However Makhachev would not suppose Tsarukyan has developed considerably.
“After all improved. He has extra expertise, however identical abilities,” Makhachev mentioned. “He beat all these guys as a result of they do not have wrestling. When somebody has good wrestling talent he all the time has bother.”
Of their first struggle, Makhachev did not know Tsarukyan or his talent set. Within the rematch, he plans to complete the Armenian.
“[Tsarukyan] was one of many hardest fights, after all, but it surely’s not the hardest struggle as a result of the 5 rounds with Volkanovski, it was loopy,” Makhachev mentioned. “It was coronary heart price 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 I by no means watched his struggle and he did properly in that struggle, however I like to complete the outdated questions.
“When I’ve the struggle with Volkanovski, I advised all people I’ve to complete the questions and end. That’s why the second struggle I will likely be on the lookout for the end and make all people shut up.”
“The primary struggle I don’t know his background,” Makhachev continued. “He defends my wrestling, he’s robust, that’s why he gave me a tough time. However now I do know every thing that he can do. … Charles, each spherical, nearly completed [Tsarukyan]. Do some guillotine, do some triangle choke, every thing very shut, however I feel I’ve extra likelihood.”
