Arman Tsarukyan makes his reasoning known for backing Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 main event against Alex Pereira!
MMA fighters often see things in fights that casual fans miss completely. Their trained eyes catch subtle weaknesses, technical mistakes, and tactical advantages. They understand the chess match happening inside the cage. Arman Tsarukyan is one of these fighters with exceptional fight IQ.
The rising lightweight contender recently shared his thoughts on the UFC 313 main event. He claims he predicted Magomed Ankalaev’s victory over Alex Pereira before it happened.
In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Tsarukyan didn’t mince words about the light heavyweight title fight. He revealed that he knew Ankalaev would be too much for the Brazilian striker to handle.
“I knew that Ankalaev gonna beat him if it’s not lucky punch. Yeah. I mean, we know, Pereira, he’s so dangerous. He has a good left hook. And just, I thought left hook and kicks, leg kicks. So, first round, he started with leg kicks. And I was scared. Again, they going to kill his [Ankalaev’s] legs, and then he gonna change his stance. But then he could change his game. He started to go forward, and he won last, I think, four rounds.”
The Armenian fighter explained his pre-fight analysis centered around two key factors. First, Pereira’s dangerous left hook that has flattened many opponents. Second, leg kicks that could potentially exploit a weakness Ankalaev showed in his 2022 fight against Jan Blachowicz. Tsarukyan paid close attention to how the fight unfolded, noting that Pereira started attacking with leg kicks in the first round.
But the story quickly changed as the fight progressed. Ankalaev made crucial adjustments. This tactical evolution from Ankalaev showed championship-level adaptability. The Dagestani fighter refused to let Pereira dictate the terms of engagement.
Instead of backing away from the dangerous striker, Ankalaev pressured forward and neutralized Pereira’s offensive weapons. Tsarukyan scored the fight 3-2 for Ankalaev, giving him rounds two, three, and four while seeing the fifth as “even, 50-50.”
The outcome has major implications for the light heavyweight division. Ankalaev finally secured UFC gold after years of dominance and a controversial draw against Jan Blachowicz in his first title opportunity. For Pereira, it marks his first loss in the UFC light heavyweight division. The close nature of their fight has already sparked talk of an immediate rematch, something the UFC seems to be considering.
Tsarukyan’s insights bring technical understanding from years of training and fighting at the highest level. His own history with Makhachev, losing a competitive fight to the future champion in 2019, shows his ability to compete with elite talent. Now, as he watches a new champion crowned in Ankalaev, Tsarukyan likely sees parallels to his own journey. Both fighters had to overcome setbacks before reaching their goals. Ankalaev finally has his belt, while Tsarukyan still chases his championship dream!
(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)
