UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is not happy with Arman Tsarukyan’s constant chirping.
The two lightweights first fought Tsarukyan in April 2019, where the reigning champion won by a closely contested decision against the Armenian, who was making his debut. Five years later, Arman is ready to take on the Dagestani in a 155-pound title fight that will likely happen next.
Arman has already started promoting their fight, claiming how Islam would be an easy opponent for him, because Tsarukyan thinks the champ got tired in his most recent title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, where he won by fifth-round submission.
Makhachev believes Tsarukyan is just an attention seeker.
“He just talks a lot,” Makhachev said to Red Corner MMA. “He can’t get any attention through his fights, so he’s trying to do this by talking. He had his shot, I beat him once. I guess I’ll have to do it again. I wasn’t exhausted. I was fresh ahead of every round. It’s almost impossible for an exhausted fighter to choke his opponent in the fifth round. Poirier is one of the best and he keeps improving. He was choked out in two title fights, so he was probably preparing for it. He was well prepared. I was trying to choke him out in the first round. I had a lot of power, but he defended it well.”
UFC CEO Dana White has hinted at a strong possibility of a rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan for the lightweight title. Both fighters have expressed their interest in squaring off at Madison Square Garden before the year’s end.
Who do you think would win a potential lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan?
