Arman Tsarukyan says Islam Makhachev 'doesn't deserve' No. 1 pound-for-pound spot, backs Jon Jones

by Christina S. Brown
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ABU DHABI – Arman Tsarukyan can’t assist however suppose he needs to be only a few days from preventing Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title at UFC 308. As a substitute, he’ll have to attend a number of extra months.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was prepared and prepared to struggle Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) on Saturday’s card at Etihad Enviornment, however then the champion sustained a hand harm that extended his timeline for a return into early 2025.

Regardless of that, Tsarukyan flew to the occasion as a visitor fighter to really feel the vitality of an enormous struggle week on a card now headlined by Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway. Nevertheless, he admits he needs it was him in the primary occasion.

“We have been imagined to struggle right here after which in December, however now they informed me starting of subsequent yr,” Tsarukyan informed MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I’m preparing and hopefully it’s going to be in January or February. It’s going to be a title struggle for certain. I want I struggle this weekend as a result of I don’t wish to waste my time and wait, as a result of I fought only one time this yr. I needed to struggle every now and then relaxation after which struggle and defend my title subsequent yr.”

Tsarukyan’s showdown with Makhachev, each time it occurs, will probably be a rematch between the 2 top-ranked lightweights within the UFC. They first met in April 2019, with Tsarukyan dropping a call within the Combat of the Evening. He took the bout on brief discover and carried out admirably, however each males have improved considerably since then.

It’s Tsarukyan’s expectation that the second encounter will probably be a aggressive one, as properly, however finally he’s setting the bar excessive for himself, and which means ending the job with out the involvement of the judges.

“You may’t say it’s going to be a straightforward struggle,” Tsarukyan stated. “I attempt to suppose it’s going to be simple for me, and I don’t wish to suppose it’s going to be a call. I wish to end him.”

In keeping with the UFC’s official rankings, Makhachev is presently the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter within the group. UFC CEO Dana White has adamantly rejected that notion and emphatically backed Jon Jones for the place, and Tsarukyan tends to agree with that stance.

“No, he doesn’t deserve it,” Tsarukyan stated. “I agree the No. 1 pound-for-pound is Jon Jones as a result of he’s a legend. He’s nonetheless preventing. We’ll see. Subsequent month he’s preventing and if he beats Stipe Miocic, he’s bought to be No. 1 pound-for-pound. Then when he retires, after all it’s Islam.”

Tsarukyan, 28, stated he expects the struggle with Makhachev, 32, to be finalized within the coming days, with UFC 311 on Jan. 18 or UFC 312 on Feb. 12 being the more than likely dates. If Tsarukyan captures the 155-pound strap, he could be 1-1 in head-to-head competitors with Makhachev. Does that imply a trilogy could be subsequent? He can’t say for certain, however Tsarukyan would most actually be open to extra fights with Makhachev going ahead.

“For me, it doesn’t matter – I can struggle with him three or 4 instances,” Tsarukyan stated. “I simply need the title. After the title I can inform what I’m going to do. My purpose is simply to win the title after which after that I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

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