Arman Tsarukyan eyes upset against Makhachev at UFC 311
Arman Tsarukyan believes that a new technique he has adopted will take champion Islam Makhachev by surprise in their lightweight title fight at UFC 311 in Los Angeles this Saturday evening.
The pair fought six years ago, with Makhachev winning by unanimous decision in a clash that was awarded fight of the night for its competitiveness.
Since then, Makhachev has won a further nine bouts in a row, taking him to the pinnacle of the division and making him a $1.28 favourite at UFC bookmakers when they meet this weekend.
However, Tsarukyan is quietly confident that he has an edged heading into their rematch.
“I’ve changed so much,” Tsarukyan said in a recent interview.
“Ah, my new technique… How can I share with you?
“But this is a good move. Good things and he’s going to be surprised.
“I’ve never done it before.”
Outside of his mystery technique, Tsarukyan – who is 9-1 in the UFC since losing to Makhachev – believes his wealth of experience and constant learning will help him on Saturday night as well.
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“I train every day,” he said.
“I want to find something new, to do something that I’ve never done before.
“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 [improved] from the fight (against Makhachev) is I got experience, especially UFC experience.
“When you fight the first time, you’re super excited, you’re nervous, but now I’m already used to it, for the crowd, for the people, for the media.
“Just now it’s like a job. Just go there and have fun and fight.”
Top betting apps see the judges’ cards as Tsarukyan’s best chance of winning, paying $7 for the Armenian to win by decision.
With the betting markets against him, the 28-year-old is realistic about the challenge he faces in his first title fight.
“Islam is so smart,” he said.
“He’s so well-rounded. He can strike, he can clinch, he can wrestle.
“On the clinch, he has good movement.
“He’s ready when you move and then takes you down, when you knee him and he flips you.
“I’m just going to do my best there and I know how I can beat and I’ll go there I just feel my hands, my power.
“I just can’t wait to show everybody what is the new version of Arman Tsarukyan.”
