The first big PPV of the year starts off with UFC 311 on Saturday January 18, 2025. Two weeks from now, and the main event of that card will be Arman Tsarukyan versus Islam Makhachev 2. A rematch of their first bout which took place in April of 2019 where Islam Makhachev won by unanimous decision.
The lead-up to this fight has a different feel. This matchup is high stakes for the undisputed lightweight championship. Five years is a long time and both fighters have grown. Although Arman lost to Islam in their first fight; that fight was very impressive and he was actually awarded a fight of the night bonus. Tsarukyan has amassed a record of 9-2 in the UFC thus far including 4 straight wins. Islam has since achieved everything a fighter could hope to dream of. He is currently the lightweight king with title wins against the former pound 4 pound #1 Alexander Volkanovski x2, Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier. Islam sits at #1 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings and has 14 wins in a row which places him third all time in longest win streaks.
Fighter Profiles
- Islam Makhachev: Islam is extremely well rounded, arguably the most well rounded fighter on the roster today with a strong sambo base. He possesses exceptional grappling and control. Islam is a grappler first and foremost but in recent outings against Volk, Charles and Dustin. He has continued to show his evolution in the striking department.
- Arman Tsarukyan: Tsarukyan is known for his well-roundedness. He is an excellent athlete with powerful strikes and a strong wrestling base. Against Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, Arman’s resiliency and explosiveness was on full display.
Fight Dynamics
- Grappling: Arman and Islam come from grappling heavy backgrounds. Their first fight showcased the beauty of grappling in mixed martial arts and high level scrambling ability. Arman is the first opponent to score a takedown on Makhachev. They will likely cancel each other out in this department.
- Striking: Both fighters have shown the ability to finish fights with their striking. In my opinion, Islam is the more polished striker with better setups but Arman is the more explosive and dynamic fighter. Islam will likely have the advantage as long as he remains disciplined and uses his feints to offset Arman.
- Experience: Islam holds the advantage in both calibre of opponents and 5-round championship experience. The first fight was a three-rounder. Arman only has one 5-round fight where he lost a highly contest bout against Mateusz Gamrot. Islam has went life and death with Dustin and Volk to secure a finish in the 5th and a unanimous victory as well as seeing a 4th round finish against Thiago Moises. The longer the fight goes it should favour Islam, if Arman wins it will likely be a finish in the earlier rounds.
In conclusion, Arman Tsarukyan vs Islam Makhachev 2 is an absolute treat for hardcore fans and promises to be a chess match between the elite of the storied 155 lbs division. The potential of an upset or another historic night for team Khabib? Only time will tell. My prediction for this matchup is Islam Makhachev via UD.
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