Arman Tsarukyan, a prominent contender in the UFC lightweight division, has articulated his firm intention to achieve a knockout win over Islam Makhachev should they face each other again. Their initial encounter occurred in 2019 during Tsarukyan’s UFC debut, where Makhachev ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory after a competitive three-round contest.
A highly anticipated rematch was scheduled for UFC 311 last year. However, Tsarukyan, known by his moniker “Ahalkalakets,” was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the championship bout at the last minute due to a hernia. This unforeseen event led to Renato Moicano stepping in as a short-notice replacement, who was subsequently submitted by Makhachev in the opening round.
Following that, Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title on four occasions. He then made the decision to vacate his lightweight championship and transition to the welterweight division, where he promptly captured the 170-pound strap at UFC 322 by defeating Jack Della Maddalena.
In parallel, Tsarukyan continued his impressive trajectory, facing Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar later that same year and earning a significant second-round submission victory.
Looking ahead, Islam Makhachev is expected to make his first defense of the welterweight title in August. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan’s coach, Marcos Parrumpa DaMatta from American Top Team, has confirmed that Tsarukyan also has an opponent and a fight date finalized, with an official announcement anticipated in the near future.
Tsarukyan Vows to Knock Out Makhachev in Future Clash
Despite the unlikelihood of Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev meeting in the immediate future, the Armenian fighter recently reaffirmed his ambition to knock out Makhachev. During a recent conversation with M Hassan Yosufi, “Ahalkalakets” candidly admitted that Makhachev remains the toughest opponent he has ever encountered, praising the current pound-for-pound king’s superior skill set and comprehensive arsenal. He then confidently declared, “I’ll just knock him out next time.”