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Arman Tsarukyan Trains With The Only Man To Beat Islam Makhachev Ahead Of UFC 311

Islam Makhachev is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world today for a reason. The UFC lightweight champion was already a dominant grappler but with the improvements that he has shown in his all-round skillset in recent years, he’s the total package. However, unlike his long-time training partner and the former 155-pound king, Khabib […]

However, unlike his long-time training partner and the former 155-pound king, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has had several tough fights and moments of serious adversity inside the Octagon. One of those difficult tests was against late notice replacement Arman Tsarukyan in 2019 where the Armenian was able to really push the man that many considered to be on his way to being a top contender.

At UFC 311 in January, they will run it back for the lightweight gold in Los Angeles and in order to help him prepare, the challenger has brought in another man that caused Makhachev some serious problems. Through 27 pro fights, the current champion has only ever tasted defeat once.

In his second fight with the promotion at UFC 192 in 2015, he was knocked out in the first round by Brazil’s Adriano Martins who at the time, had 22 more pro fights on his record. After Makhachev missed a big overhand left, Martins countered with his own and dropped the Russian with the referee immediately stepping in.

Following back-to-back losses to Leonardo Santos and Kajan Johnson after this win, Martins was cut from the UFC, ending his run in the promotion with an overall record of 4-3. In March this year, he defeated Donovan Desmae to snap a run of six fights without a win that dated back to his final UFC fights.

He’s now set to return to the cage later this month but before then, Tsarukyan looked to engage in a bit of mental warfare with his next opponent by sharing a gym photo of him and the only man to defeat Makhachev.

Arman Tsarukyan on the Pressure of Beating Islam Makhachev: It’s Beating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

Arman Tsarukyan on the Pressure of Beating Islam Makhachev: It’s Beating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy Beating Islam Makhachev isn’t just about winning the UFC lightweight world title for Arman Tsarukyan. It’s about beating the…

Beating Islam Makhachev isn’t just about winning the UFC lightweight world title for Arman Tsarukyan. It’s about beating the legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

After coming up short against the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ in his promotional debut five years ago, Tsarukyan will get another crack at Makhachev when the two headline UFC 311 on Saturday, January 18 in Inglewood, California.

Islam Makhachev vs Arman Tsarukyan Poster 819x1024 1

It’s a fight that’s been a long time coming for Tsarukyan, and like any title opportunity, ‘Ahalkalakets’ is admittedly feeling some pressure. But it’s not just the typical pressure that comes with fighting a world champion. Instead, it feels like Tsarukyan will also be going up against the man who will be in Makhachev’s corner come fight night.

“It’s gonna give me more energy because it’s kind of like, if I beat Islam, it’s like beating Khabib’s team, you know,” Tsarukyan said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I watched all Khabib’s fights. And, for me, he’s the GOAT in our division right now.”

Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev have won a combined 18 straight fights going into UFC 311

Since losing his UFC debut against Makhachev, Tsarukyan has gone 9-1 inside the Octagon with his most recent victories coming via a 64-second knockout of Beneil Dariush and a split-decision W over former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

For Makhachev, it will be his fourth time defending the 155-pound crown. Initially, Nurmagomedov’s protege earned back-to-back wins over former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski before landing a fifth-round submission victory against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.

Arman Tsarukyan on the Pressure of Beating Islam Makhachev: It’s Beating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

Beating Islam Makhachev isn’t just about winning the UFC lightweight world title for Arman Tsarukyan. It’s about beating the…

Beating Islam Makhachev isn’t just about winning the UFC lightweight world title for Arman Tsarukyan. It’s about beating the legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“It’s gonna give me more energy because it’s kind of like, if I beat Islam, it’s like beating Khabib’s team, you know,” Tsarukyan said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I watched all Khabib’s fights. And, for me, he’s the GOAT in our division right now.”

Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev have won a combined 18 straight fights going into UFC 311

Ilia Topuria ‘Definitely’ Done Fighting at 145, Plots Lightweight Clash Against Charles Oliveira

Less than 50 days removed from his first featherweight title defense, Ilia Topuria is ready to move on. In…

Less than 50 days removed from his first featherweight title defense, Ilia Topuria is ready to move on.

In October, ‘El Matador’ viciously KO’d the UFC’s baddest motherf*cker Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi and appeared to be on track for a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in 2025. However, that may no longer be the case after Topuria said in no uncertain terms that he’s officially done competing in the weight class.

“Yes, for sure. Definitely yes,” Topuria told the El Partidazo de Cadena Cope podcast when asked if the Holloway fight was his last time competing at 145.

It’s a little surprising to hear that Topuria is already plotting an exit from the weight class with fresh matchups against top-five-ranked contenders like Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev available.

Instead, ‘El Matador’ appears to have his sights set on becoming a two-division champion before walking away from the organization in a few short years.

“We need to talk about it and take a look at my future, but for me, it’s very clear how I want to do it,” Topuria said. “I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam [Makhachev] is the champion fighting in January, and he won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira… I’m 27; I hope to be out by 30.”

Islam Makhachev not interested in a fight with ilia topuria

Unfortunately for Ilia Topuria, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ doesn’t seem too interested in fighting him.

“We’ll fight if we have to,” Makhachev told MatchTV. “In terms of my fighting career, I’m not interested in fighting Topuria at all. He’s in a different weight class. I’ll beat him, and what will that do for me? I won’t win another belt. Everyone will once again say that I beat a Featherweight. That’s it. But, if people really want to see him lose, then we can do it.”

After securing a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier in June, Makahachev will be back in action on January 18 to defend his lightweight title against the division’s No. 1 contender, Arman Tsarukyan.

Ilia Topuria 'Definitely' Done Fighting at 145, Plots Lightweight Clash Against Charles Oliveira 3

The two previously met in April 2019 when Tsarukyan was making his UFC debut. Makhachev won that bout via unanimous decision in the middle of what has turned out to be a 14-fight win streak dating back to his third appearance with the promotion nearly a decade ago.

What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles. The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were […]

UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were headline wins for Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as important victories for Bryce Mitchell, Dominick Reyes, and Movsar Evloev.

While the aftermath of the Dec. 7 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the flyweight title picture to the lightweight championship conversation.

WHAT A CARD #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/aJrTpJNJvJ

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 8, 2024

At UFC 311, set for the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, reigning kingpin Islam Makhachev will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 155-pound gold. After following his crowning against Charles Oliveira with retentions opposite Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, the Dagestani will next run it back with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his gold for the first time since winning it at the expense of Sean O’Malley. In his way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

Procházka, Moicano, de Ridder, Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 311

Before Makhachev and Dvalishvili defend their belts, a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 311 card.

That includes a pair of former light heavyweight champions in Ji?í Procházka and Jamahal Hill. After falling to the renowned power of reigning kingpin Alex Pereira this year, both will be looking to bounce back and reinsert themselves into the title picture at 205 pounds.

Prior to that, an important lightweight clash goes down. Fresh off a 3-0 run in 2024 and main event triumph over Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, Renato Moicano gets the chance to further climb the 155-pound ladder against veteran contender Beneil Dariush, who hasn’t competed since a knockout to Tsarukyan in December 2023.

And opening the UFC 311 main card will be promotional newcomer Reinier de Ridder. The former two-division ONE championship titleholder debuted this past November in a grueling clash with Gerald Meerschaert at the Apex. If he’s to move to 2-0 in the Octagon, the Dutchman must add to the woes of Kevin Holland, who most recently fell to an injury TKO loss opposite Roman Dolidze.

Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over ranked light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Bogdan Guskov, as well as a top 10 heavyweight bout between Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac.

See below for the full UFC 311 card, as it stands.

Main Card:

Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
Ji?í Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

Preliminary Card:

Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)

Early Preliminary Card:

Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)

Read More: Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili After UFC 310 Fan Clash: ‘He’s My Mini-Sean Strickland — Without The Mouth’

UFC 311 Press Conference Live Stream: Featuring Makhachev, Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili & Nurmagomedov

UFC 311 will kick off the promotion’s pay-per-view schedule for 2025, and MMA News has you covered with this week’s press conference. The MMA leader has business to attend to in Las Vegas on Saturday night before focus turns to next year’s opening numbered event, but Friday will see attention briefly on the Jan. 18 […]

UFC 311 will kick off the promotion’s pay-per-view schedule for 2025, and MMA News has you covered with this week’s press conference.

The MMA leader has business to attend to in Las Vegas on Saturday night before focus turns to next year’s opening numbered event, but Friday will see attention briefly on the Jan. 18 card in Los Angeles before the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Appearing on stage with mic in hand will be the four UFC 311 headliners — Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.

See below for a live stream of the UFC 311 presser via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 6 PM ET.

UFC 311, set to play out inside the Intuit Dome, will be headlined by Makhachev’s (26-1) fourth defense of the lightweight title. Since capturing it at the expense of Charles Oliveira in 2022, the Dagestani has turned away two challenges from featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski and one from Dustin Poirier.

Makhachev could now be set for his toughest test to date as he runs it back with the charging Tsarukyan (22-3). The Russian-Armenian secured his first shot at gold with a victory over Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April. And given how competitive his 2019 fight with the champ was, he’s confident of being the one to start a new chapter at 155 pounds.

There will also be title stakes in the co-main event, meanwhile, as Dvalishvili (18-4) puts his newly won bantamweight belt on the line for the first time. Four months on from unseating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside the Sphere, the Georgian is tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Nurmagomedov (18-0) if he’s to add a successful retention to his résumé.

A number of other intriguing matchups are scheduled for the stacked card. The current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
Ji?í Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)