For most individuals, Islam Makhachev is named the reigning UFC light-weight world champion. Some could even know him as the very best P4P fighter on the planet. For Arman Tsarukyan, he was simply the cousin of Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov.
On Saturday, January 18, Tsarukyan will try and turn out to be simply the second man to defeat Khabib’s cuz when the 2 headline UFC 311 contained in the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. On that night time, ‘Akhalkalakets’ challenges Makhachev for the 155-pound crown in a rematch 5 years within the making.
It will likely be the pair’s second-ever assembly — their first coming at UFC on ESPN+ 7 in April 2019. Makhachev got here out on high, handing Tsarukyan a unanimous determination loss within the Armenian’s promotional debut.
Since then, Tsarukyan has gone 9-1 contained in the Octagon, together with wins over Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira in his final two outings. These victories thrust Tsarukyan into the highest spot within the light-weight division, setting the stage for a rematch greater than 5 years within the making.
Tsarukyan knew Islam Makhachev could be robust simply due to his relationship with Khabib
Lengthy earlier than Tsarukyan ever stepped foot inside a cage with Makhachev, he knew who the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ was. Nevertheless, it wasn’t Makhachev’s status for stacking our bodies contained in the Octagon that obtained Tsarukyan’s consideration — it was his relation to ‘The Eagle.
“I knew him very well because he’s Khabib’s cousin, and he already had five or six fights in the UFC,” Tsarukyan advised ESPN MMA. “I at all times watched his fights and Khabib’s fights. So, once I heard it was Islam, I already knew he was a southpaw, an excellent wrestler, and really expert.
“I was more excited because everyone in Russia knows him. I thought it was a good fight for me, and when I beat him, people would talk about me.”
