Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) walks out for a ightweight title fight against Renato Moicano (not pictured) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Islam Makhachev Endorses Arman Tsarukyan As Next Challenger, Believes A Good Game Plan Can Land Him The Lightweight Title!

Islam Makhachev knows what it takes to reach the top of the brutal UFC lightweight division. He scratched and clawed his way through years of tough fights before finally claiming the throne that Khabib Nurmagomedov once sat. Now the former champion is doing something pretty rare in MMA: backing a potential challenger.

Arman Tsarukyan finds himself in a weird spot right now. The Armenian-born fighter has proven he belongs with the elite, but politics and timing keep getting in his way. He was supposed to fight for the title earlier this year but had to pull out due to weight cutting issues. That move didn’t win him any fans, especially from current featherweight king Ilia Topuria, who seems less than thrilled about facing him. But Makhachev sees something different in Arman, the kind of potential that could shake up both divisions.

Why Islam Makhachev Thinks Arman Tsarukyan Deserves His Shot

Makhachev’s logic makes perfect sense. In the UFC, being a backup fighter usually leads to big opportunities. Arman stepped up as the backup for a title fight and made weight successfully. That alone should earn him some credit in Islam’s book.

“Whenever someone is a backup for a [title] fight. He almost always fights for the belt next…Arman was the backup and made weight. I think he should be next. He proved himself. He had a problem with cutting weight, but he proved that he can go down and cut weight. I think this is the fight that makes the most sense,” said Makhachev at the Eagle FC press conference.

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Arman faced serious problems cutting weight in the past, which cost him a title shot and damaged his reputation. But he proved he could overcome those issues by making weight as a backup fighter. Islam Makhachev recognized that kind of mental toughness because he faced his own struggles climbing the rankings.

Islam Makhachev Believes A Good Game Plan Could Make Or Break The Fight

The Dagestani doesn’t just think Arman deserves a shot. He believes the Armenian has the tools to actually win. Makhachev has studied both fighters closely and sees stylistic advantages that Arman could exploit against Topuria. The Spanish-Georgian knockout artist has looked unstoppable lately, but every fighter has weaknesses that the right opponent can expose.

“He [Arman] has already proven himself. If he has the right plan, he can beat Ilia,” said Makhachev via Ushatayka.

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Arman brings a unique blend of wrestling and striking that could give Topuria problems. His grappling background runs deep, and he’s shown improvements in his standup game with each fight. Islam probably sees similarities between Arman’s skill set and the Dagestani style that has dominated lightweight for years. The key would be mixing takedowns with pressure striking, something Arman has done successfully against other elite fighters. Topuria’s knockout power demands respect, but Arman has proven he can handle dangerous strikers when he sticks to smart game plans.

Topuria wants to fight bigger names like Justin Gaethje or even Paddy Pimblett, which sounds more like business decisions than sporting merit. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan sits in limbo despite earning his ranking through actual wins over top contenders. Islam’s public endorsement might help push the UFC toward making the fight that makes the most sense on paper!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!