Ahead of his highly-anticipated lightweight clash with Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 57, Arman Tsarukyan has said that he’s the best lightweight in the world.
Tsarukyan has won five in a row since losing to Islam Makhachev on his promotional debut and hopes to improve his winning streak to six this weekend at UFC Vegas 57. He is only 25 years old and has a long career ahead of him.
Arman Tsarukyan On Fellow Lightweights
The Armenian-Russian probably is yet to reach his prime, but feels that he has the skills to beat the best lightweights in the world, including Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje, he said during an interview with ESPN (as transcribed by MMA News).
“I feel I am the best in this division. I’m the youngest fighter, I’m in top 15,” Tsarukyan said. “Yeah, we have big names in this division, but for me, it doesn’t matter. I know I can beat everybody there, like Poirier or Gaethje or Conor.”
Should he get past Gamrot this weekend, Tsarukyan wants to fight a top five opponent, and he said that he’d love to run it back with Makhachev.
“I don’t think he is the best lightweight,” Tsarukyan said. “I know I am the best lightweight. I am the youngest and my skills is better, you know, my boxing, my striking. I didn’t have enough experience when I fought him, I know that, for sure. It was my first fight… I know me, I train very hard and I improve my skills every day. I’m learning every day… I feel like I’m the best in the division.
“If I fight with Islam Makhachev [again], I will show you who is the best lightweight. After this fight, if the UFC gives me the opportunity to fight with Islam, I will sign.”
Islam Makhachev is gunning for a vacant lightweight title fight against Charles Oliveira, and the UFC is reportedly looking to book the fight at UFC 281 on October 22nd in Abu Dhabi.
How do you think Arman Tsarukyan would do in a rematch with Islam Makhachev?
