Fight fans are in for a treat this weekend, as Islam Makhachev prepares to take on Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 in a battle for the UFC Lightweight Championship at the Intuit Dome in California.
The co-main event on this weekend's fight card will see Merab Dvalishvili defending his Bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov after Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill go toe-to-toe in a Light Heavyweight bout.
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan preview
This is a match almost five years in the making, as these two previously faced off back in April 2019 in a bout that went the distance and saw Islam Makhachev come out on top by unanimous decision.
Since their first battle, both fighters have dramatically refined their skills, competing against some of the top contenders in their division, but Makhachev, with the legend that is Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner, has risen to the top of the totem pole in the Lightweight class.
Makhachev is now considered one of, if not the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and he has won 14 consecutive fights ahead of this one, with seven of his last eight wins coming inside the distance.
The Dagestani MMA star has refined his incredible Sambo background to dominate opponents on the ground, and like Khabib, once he gets hold of them, he has all the ability to either submit them or unleash lethal ground-and-pound strikes.
However, the champ is far from a one-dimensional fighter, having made remarkable strides in developing his striking abilities alongside his renowned grappling skills, as we saw against Dustin Poirier when he traded blow-for-blow and won several of the stand-up battles.
Meanwhile, prior to joining the UFC in 2019, Arman Tsarukyan built an impressive 14-1 professional record across various fight organisations before making his promotional debut against Makhachev, where he delivered a tough challenge but ultimately fell short.
Since that first encounter, Tsarukyan has notched up an impressive 9-1 record, with his only loss coming in a highly competitive bout against Mateusz Gamrot - a fight many neutrals felt the 28-year-old should have won.
That loss did nothing to derail his path to title contention, though, as the Armenian bounced back with impressive victories over Damir Ismagulov, Joaquim Silva, Beneil Dariush and former champion Charles Oliveira, earning him a second shot at the coveted belt.
In addition to his relentless wrestling, Tsarukyan possesses unorthodox striking skills that add another layer of danger to his arsenal, which was on full display when he dominated Oliveira and almost effortlessly manhandled him throughout most of the fight.
Tsarukyan seems to take his game up a level every time he sets foot in the Octagon, now averaging 3.79 strikes per minute, 3.25 takedowns every 15 minutes, and a striking defence of 53%, while his takedown defence sits at 75% - something that will crucial in this bout.
Tale of the tape
Islam Makhachev
AGE: 33
NICKNAME: None
HEIGHT: 5ft 10ins
REACH: 70ins
STANCE: Southpaw
TRAINER: Javier Mendez; Khabib Nurmagomedov
FIGHTS: 27
WINS: 26
DRAWS: 0
DEFEATS: 1
LAST FIGHT: Sub vs. Dustin Poirier (June 2024)
Arman Tsarukyan
AGE: 28
NICKNAME: "Akhalkalakets"
HEIGHT: 5ft 7ins
REACH: 72ins
STANCE: Orthodox
TRAINER: American Top Team
FIGHTS: 25
WINS: 22
DRAWS: 0
DEFEATS: 3
LAST FIGHT: Decision (split) vs. Charles Oliveira (April 2024)
Career records
Islam Makhachev
Rank: Champion
Total: 27
Wins: 26
By knockout: 5
By submission: 12
By decision: 9
Losses: 1
By knockout: 1
By submission: 0
By decision: 0
By disqualification: 0
Arman Tsarukyan
Rank: #1
Total: 25
Wins: 22
By knockout: 9
By submission: 5
By decision: 8
Losses: 3
By knockout: 1
By submission: 0
By decision: 2
By disqualification: 0
We say: Islam Makhachev to win
There is a case to be made for both these fighters, but Makhachev's ability to lure opponents into danger before suffocating them with persistent grappling and clinching to wear them down is second to none.
Tsarukyan has bags of power and the ability to put together insane combos, but the champ has seen it all before and we feel the challenger will not last the distance in this headline event.
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