Arman Tsarukyan envisions ‘best-case scenario’ knocking out Islam Makhachev in rematch for title

April 14, 2024 11:45 am ET

LAS VEGAS – After winning at UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan has his sights set on fighting for the UFC lightweight title in a rematch against Islam Makhachev.

On the biggest stage, in the most important fight of his career thus far, Armenia’s Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) picked up a split decision win over former champ Charles Oliveira on the main card of UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena.

At the conclusion of the bout, Tsarukyan went over to UFC CEO Dana White to deliver a simple request, which he revealed during a post-fight news conference.

“Give me title shot,” Tsarukyan told reporters.

The fight between Tsarukyan and Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) was billed as a No. 1 contender fight. However, White later announced that Makhachev’s next fight would be against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 1. The UFC boss told reporters options were left open going into the card, waiting to see how the evening would unfold, ultimately leaving Tsarukyan as the odd man out.

It’s unclear if Tsarukyan will have to take another fight before getting a shot at the title, but he’s focused on getting one back on Makhachev, who he first shared the octagon in his 2019 UFC debut.

“With Islam, a rematch, I’m going to win,” Tsarukyan said. “Doesn’t matter how. I just need to win that fight because I want to be a champion. The best-case scenario is knock him out.”

Although he didn’t get his hand raised that night, Tsarukyan’s UFC debut decision loss has aged about as well as one could hope. Makhachev went on to claim the UFC title six fights later and has won eight straight fights. Tsarukyan has gone 9-1 since his debut, only dropping a Fight of the Night decision to Mateusz Gamrot in a 2022 headliner. However, if you ask the Armenian, he feels like he’s undefeated since fighting Dagestan’s Makhachev.

“I fought like 10 times after that fight, and I feel like 10 winning streak I have after that fight,” Tsarukyan said.  “I didn’t lose any fights from Islam fight. It was five years ago, I got a lot of experience.

“My skills, I am getting better every day, I feel it. Every camp I get better. So I feel this camp was better than the last one, and the previous one and I’m going up. I don’t know what I’m going to be in three or four years, going to be like unstoppable fighter.”

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