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.
