Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t agree with people
saying Islam Makhachev moved up to avoid fighting Ilia Topuria:„[Jack] is going to be a tough fight too. Maddalena would be harder
for Islam than the Topuria fight.“Advertisement
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June 1, 2025
Arman
Tsarukyan doesn’t think Islam
Makhachev moved up to avoid Ilia
Topuria.
Topuria vacated his featherweight strap in quest of a lightweight
title shot against Makhachev. However, Makhachev was unwilling to
fight the Georgian-Spaniard until he had proven himself at 155
pounds. That opportunity never arose, as Makhachev subsequently
vacated his title for a welterweight gold bid against newly-crowned
champ Jack
Della Maddalena.
While Topuria will now fight Charles
Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317
on June 28, Dana White has confirmed that Makhachev will fight
Maddalena in the near future.Tsarukyan believes Makhachev will open
as a favorite against Maddalena.
“I see Islam as the favorite [against Maddalena]… Because of
wrestling, control, chokes,” Tsarukyan told media following a
grappling event in Russia. “Islam, I think he has a much better
wrestling game and can easily [take him down].”
While a move up in weight is usually considered the more difficult
move, some still argue that Topuria would have been a harder fight
for Makhachev than Maddalena. However, Tsarukyan disagrees.
Tsarukyan considers Maddalena a more technically sound boxer than
“La Leyenda.” Tsarukyan is sure the Australian will be a tougher
matchup than Topuria for Makhachev.
“Maddalena has got good boxing too. So [the best boxer] is either
Topuria or Maddalena. But I even liked Maddalena better,” Tsarukyan
said. “Topuria just hits harder and takes more punches. But
Maddalena is technically better exactly if to speak striking wise…I
don’t agree [Topuria is a tougher fight than Maddalena].
[Maddalena] is going to be a tough fight too. Maddalena would be
harder fight for Islam than Topuria fight.”
“Ahalkalkets” was scheduled to challenge Makhachev for the
lightweight title at UFC 311
last year before pulling out due to an injury a day before the
fight. UFC CEO White was not impressed and made it clear that
Tsarukyan won’t fight for the title next. Tsarukyan has since
picked up victories in grappling matches against Patricky
Freire and Makasharip Zaynukov.