Outside Source
Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) has a special trick up his sleeve for Islam Makhachev (26-1).
Tsarukyan challenges Makhachev for the lightweight title in the main event at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. While Tsarukyan has long been the rightful No. 1 contender, he was very particular about having a full camp for his rematch against Makhachev.
Tsarukyan believes he is now totally ready. While “Ahalkalakets” spent a long time working on his physique, he is now focused on preparing specifically for Makhachev as fight night nears. And Tsarukyan claims to have devised a trick that he is certain will work and change the entire course of the fight.
“Back in September I worked on my cardio, my breathing, my strength [and] endurance,” Tsarukyan recently told Red Corner MMA. “But now it’s all about preparing for my opponent – Islam… Of course, I have one trick prepared that I believe in. I know it will work. And it will change the whole course of the fight.”
👀Arman Tsarukyan says he prepared a special trick for his fight with Islam Makhachev:
“I know it will work. And it will change the whole course of the fight.”
🎥 @RedCorner_MMA ▫️ pic.twitter.com/HpkYA8joLu
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 5, 2025
Tsarukyan initially faced Makhachev in his short-notice UFC debut back in 2019, when he dropped a hard-fought unanimous decision. Tsarukyan also revealed that Makhachev had some words of support for him after their clash, although it didn’t help much with the feeling of the loss.
“He supported me after the fight,” Tsarukyan said. “He said, ‘You’re still young, everything’s ahead of you. So don’t be upset. And I was like, ‘I’m not that young.’ Fell down… Well, sat down and covered my eyes. Yes I never liked losing, no matter how young I was.”
👀👏Arman Tsarukyan opens up about what Islam Makhachev told him after their first fight:
“He supported me after the fight. He said, ‘You’re still young, everything’s ahead of you. So don’t be upset.’
And I was like ‘I’m not that young’… sat down, and covered my eyes.”
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 5, 2025
Tsarukyan has since lost only once in 10 UFC outings since then. He is riding a four-fight winning streak topped off by a split-decision victory over former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC300.
Meanwhile, Makhachev is unbeaten in 14 promotional outings — including four title fights — since suffering his lone career loss against Adriano Martins in 2015.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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