After watching Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, Arman Tsarukyan is adamant he can beat him.
Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) retained his light-weight title with a Spherical 5 submission of Dustin Poirier on this previous Saturday’s predominant occasion. Tsarukyan is touted to be the subsequent title challenger, as he’ll look to avenge his UFC debut loss to Makhachev.
Tsarukyan noticed Makhachev decelerate in opposition to Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC), and thinks he’d exploit him if he acquired drained of their battle. Makhachev confirmed hypothesis that he was battling a staph an infection lower than a month out of the battle.
“It might be very simple battle for me,” Tsarukyan stated on The MMA Hour. “I may outwrestle him (in) that battle as nicely as a result of he acquired drained. Once you’re drained, you’ll be able to’t do sh*t. Even when you’ve got the perfect expertise on the planet, in the event you’re drained, you’re executed. All his five-round fights – he acquired drained with Volkanovski, he acquired drained with Dustin, and hopefully it’s going to be my key to win this battle.
Poirier hung robust, stuffing a number of takedown makes an attempt and even busting Makhachev open with an elbow. Tsarukyan anticipated Poirier to carry out nicely.
“I wasn’t (stunned),” Tsarukyan stated. “I knew his coronary heart is superb and I informed all people it’s like 60-40. All people speak like, ‘Oh, Islam going to win him, one hundred pc. He’s not going to offer him any likelihood,’ however I knew it’s going to be robust battle. Dustin, he’s a canine, so I wasn’t like – his defensive wrestling was tremendous good and Islam couldn’t choke him. When he acquired drained within the fifth spherical, yeah, he acquired him.
“It wasn’t his finest efficiency. He acquired drained and he was sluggish. I really feel like Islam doesn’t have excellent conditioning or possibly he acquired sick or no matter. I’m not judging him due to his final battle, I acquired to look at all his fights and take him critical. He’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. I’m simply going to arrange prefer it’s finest model of Islam Makhachev. Not underestimate him. Dustin can defend his wrestling, I’m going to defend as nicely.”
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