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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun and Ken Hathaway

Arman Tsarukyan says he’s the one to beat UFC champ Islam Makhachev, ‘gave him the toughest fight in his career’

LAS VEGAS – Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t expect anyone to beat UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev – except for himself.

Tsarukyan (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) had that opportunity against Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) in his UFC debut in April 2019, but he fell short in a high-level grappling match that earned Fight of the Night.

Makhachev hasn’t lost since then and went on to capture the UFC lightweight title with a dominant submission finish of Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. Tsarukyan, on the other hand, has gone 5-1 since losing to Makhachev with his lone loss coming in a controversial decision to Mateusz Gamrot this past June.

“Islam is on a different level,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 216 media day on Wednesday. “His wrestling is good; his striking is good. I know one guy who can beat him: It’s me.”

In order to get to Makhachev again, Tsarukyan knows he has a bit of work to do. It starts with Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 216 co-main event against the streaking Damir Ismagulov (24-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC).

“If I’m gonna beat Damir and some of the top five, the UFC is gonna give me that opportunity (against Makhachev), because it was my debut, and I gave him the toughest fight in his career.”

UFC Fight Night 216 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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