Beating Islam Makhachev isn’t nearly successful the UFC light-weight world title for Arman Tsarukyan. It’s about beating the legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
After developing brief towards the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ in his promotional debut 5 years in the past, Tsarukyan will get one other crack at Makhachev when the 2 headline UFC 311 on Saturday, January 18 in Inglewood, California.
It’s a struggle that’s been a very long time coming for Tsarukyan, and like several title alternative, ‘Ahalkalakets’ is admittedly feeling some stress. However it’s not simply the standard stress that comes with combating a world champion. As a substitute, it looks like Tsarukyan may even be going up towards the person who can be in Makhachev’s nook come struggle night time.
“It’s gonna give me more energy because it’s kind of like, if I beat Islam, it’s like beating Khabib’s team, you know,” Tsarukyan mentioned on The Ariel Helwani Present. “I watched all Khabib’s fights. And, for me, he’s the GOAT in our division right now.”
Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev have received a mixed 18 straight fights going into UFC 311
Since shedding his UFC debut towards Makhachev, Tsarukyan has gone 9-1 contained in the Octagon together with his most up-to-date victories coming by way of a 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush and a split-decision W over former light-weight titleholder Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.
For Makhachev, it will likely be his fourth time defending the 155-pound crown. Initially, Nurmagomedov’s protege earned back-to-back wins over former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski earlier than touchdown a fifth-round submission victory towards Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
