UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev believes Arman Tsarukyan ought to present him gratitude for kickstarting his UFC profession.
Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) made his UFC debut in a short-notice matchup in opposition to Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) again in April 2019. He misplaced a back-and-forth Combat of the Night time unanimous choice and has since gone 9-1 to climb into light-weight title competition.
Makhachev takes credit score for giving a 22-year-old Tsarukyan the massive alternative.
“I feel Arman ought to thank me. I signed Arman for a struggle in opposition to me,” Makhachev instructed UFC Eurasia. “He bought signed to the UFC. I didn’t know something about Arman then. I haven’t seen him struggle. I simply considered him as a debutant. I wouldn’t name it an in depth struggle although many individuals say it was. I received each spherical, however Arman nonetheless requires a rematch.”
Tsarukyan emerged as No. 1 contender when he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April however declined the short-notice alternative to rematch Makhachev in Saturday’s UFC 302 (pay-per-view/ESPN2/ESPN+) important occasion. Makhachev faces Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) as an alternative at Prudential Heart in Newark, N.J.
“He had many alternatives to return out as an alternative,” Makhachev mentioned. “I do know that earlier than UFC 302, he was provided to struggle me. Both manner, our rematch is inevitable. We’ll settle this quickly.”
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