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Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev will face off for the second time at UFC 311 and while Makhachev is a big -410 favorite, Tsarukyan believes he’s improved enough over the years to threaten the Dagestani juggernaut.
“Of course, I’ve changed so much,” Tsarukyan told the media ahead of his UFC 311 title fight. “I have improved all my skills, but the best thing I feel it’s experience from the fights. When you fight, you go there, you do some mistakes during the fight and then go to the gym and work on your new skills and after each fight, I feel like I’m getting better, better, better. The best thing I from the fight I got experience.
During his media day session, Makhachev praised his opponent ahead of their fight.
“I know everything what Arman can do and I know his style and alwauhys he have same style always you know he have good wrestling that’s why he’s a my opinion that’s why he’s a number one contender right now because in our division we don’t have like many many good high level wrestlers you know but who have good skills in their wrestling they in the top”
Prediction
Arman Tsarukyan-Islam Makhachev 2 will be a tightly contested high-level grappling match, much like the first fight. While both fighters have improved since their first encounter, expect this fight to stay in the clinch and on the ground. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a replay of their first fight, with Tsarukyan fading away in the later rounds while Makhachev continues to put pressure on his opponent.
Tsarukyan has never fought a five-round fight, and his cardio will be put to the test. At the same time, Makhachev has already proven that he can perform at a high level in championship rounds. My prediction for the fight is that it will be a close five-round unanimous decision win for Islam Makhachev as he continues to put together a strong case as the greatest lightweight in UFC history.