Within the first UFC pay-per-view occasion of 2025, light-weight champion Islam Makhachev headlines UFC 311 in a rematch towards towards high contender Arman Tsarukyan.
The 2 first fought at UFC Combat Evening 149 in April 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s promotional debut. Makhachev received through unanimous determination, successful all three rounds on two of the judges’ scorecards. Almost six years faraway from their first struggle, the 2 will rematch on the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
“I knew 5 – 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 totally different fighters than they had been 5 years in the past of their first struggle. However Makhachev does not assume Tsarukyan has developed considerably.
“In fact improved. He has extra expertise, however identical expertise,” Makhachev mentioned. “He beat all these guys as a result of they do not have wrestling. When somebody has good wrestling talent he at all times has hassle.”
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, in fact, 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 already know? However possibly 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 I by no means watched his struggle and he did properly in that struggle, however I like to complete the outdated questions.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 informed everyone I’ve to complete the questions and end. That’s why the second struggle I can be in search of the end and make everyone 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 part that he can do. … Charles, each spherical, virtually completed [Tsarukyan]. Do some guillotine, do some triangle choke, every part very shut, however I believe I’ve extra likelihood.”
