‘He has weaknesses’ – UFC 311 star reveals how he can win title from Islam Makhachev in biggest fight of his life
Arman Tsarukyan has detailed several weaknesses Islam Makhachev possesses ahead of UFC 311.
Tsarukyan is fighting the biggest MMA bout of his career this Sunday as he seeks to dethrone Russian powerhouse Makhachev of his title.
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Tsarukyan lost on his UFC debut to Makhachev but has since won nine of his last 10 fights in Dana White's promotion.
The 28-year-old is on a four-fight win streak in the UFC, having beat former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in his last bout.
Tsarukyan has already met the lightweight champion during his UFC career, having lost to him by split-decision in 2019 after taking the fight on short notice.
When asked how he can exploit Makhachev to become champion in his UFC 311 main event, Tsarukyan wasn't short of answers.
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"You know, Islam, he's so smart and he's so well rounded," he said on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry.
"He can strike, he can clinch, he can wrestle, but he has weaknesses as well.
"His condition is not the best. So when he fights with a guy who wrestles, when it's going to be difficult to take down someone, you're going to waste energy.
"And his boxing is better than his kicks. I feel like my kicks are way better than his. But I mean, he's so smart as well.
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"He knows how to move, how to relax and he's got a lot of tricks. On the clinch, he has good movement.
"He's so smart, well rounded fighter and I'm just gonna do my best there.
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"I know how I can beat him and I'll go there and just feel my hands' power.
"I just can't wait to show everybody the new version of Arman Tsarukyan."
Tsarukyan takes on Makhachev in what is set to be a stacked UFC 311 card, which also features another blockbuster title fight.
Merab Dvalishvili has his inaugural bantamweight title defence against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event.
Dvalishvili won the 135-pound strap by dominating Sean O'Malley and has told talkSPORT.com he would welcome a rematch with the latter should he get past Nurmagomedov.
Since their first meeting, Makhachev has embarked on an impressive win streak in the UFC, submitting five and knocking out two of his last nine opponents.
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Makhachev captured the vacant lightweight title in October 2022 by submitting Oliveira and has defended his crown three times since.
He defeated Alexander Volkanovski, who was fighting up a division, twice in 2023 and submitted Poirier at UFC 302 in June.
UFC 311 marks the UFC's first visit to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
However, UFC President Dana White has said he may have to move the event's location due to the impact of the enormous wildfires currently spreading through Los Angeles.
In the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, who play at the Intuit Dome, called off their games while in the NFL, the LA Rams are moving stadium to play.
There has been no official update from White or the UFC on any sort of venue change and the event is expected to go ahead as normal.
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UFC champion Islam Makhachev compares Daniel Cormier to Cristiano Ronaldo in rant over unhealthy eating habits
Elsewhere at UFC 311, Kevin Holland takes on Reinier de Ridder on the main card in the middleweight division.
Jiri Prochazka faces Jamahal Hill in a top light heavyweight bout and Beneil Dariush challenges Renato Moicano in a lightweight fight.