Dominant UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has almost fully recovered from the hand injury he suffered during his stellar title fight with Dustin Poirier earlier this year.
But as fans continue to speculate about when and where the talented Russian will return, number one contender Arman Tsarukyan has tried to put an end to the guesswork.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Arman Tsarukyan says the title rematch against Makhachev will be official in a week
Last week, Islam Makhachev's manager claimed that “the contracts have not yet been signed” for the next defense of his lightweight title, stating: “We personally have not signed or received anything yet, but we are preparing for January 18.”
Fortunately, Arman Tsarukyan has now revealed that he has already been told the date/venue for the lightweight title fight and that the UFC plans to announce his title rematch with Makhachev within the next few days.
“My manager said I'm going to fight for the title early next year, I'm so excited,” the 22-3 Armenian told Caroline Pearce via TNT Sports.
“Hopefully after this event they're going to officially announce when I'm going to fight… But they already told me the place I'm going to fight and the day I'm going to fight – the UFC staff and the bosses know, but I think it's about a week will be official.
That interview appears to have been conducted at UFC 309, meaning the announcement could be made at the push of a button as early as December 7 – when the promotion returns to Las Vegas for the final PPV of the year.
“Hopefully we'll fight in January or February,” Tsarukyan continued, with UFC 311 scheduled for January 18 in California and UFC 312 for February 8 in Sydney – neither main event has been announced.
“It was almost six years ago; I was young and it was my first fight in the UFC,” Tsarukyan said of his first fight with Makhachev; a decisive victory for the current 155-pound king in 2019.
“I have had good experiences and I feel like I am better everywhere. I have improved my boxing and wrestling, but the most important thing is experience. Now I feel very good in the cage. I'm not nervous. [anymore].”
Easier said than done; Tsarukyan's plan is to beat Makhachev and then finish Oliveira
Tsarukyan remains incredibly confident he can bounce back from that loss against Makhachev in early 2025, and should the Armenian wrestler get his hands on the UFC title, he will look to make his first defense against 'do Bronx.
'Of course I'm down [to fight] everyone – Charles Oliveira is one of the best in our division. I feel like Islam, Charles Oliveira and I are the top 3 in the lightweight division.
“Charles has beaten everyone in the Top 15, I have beaten everyone too and Islam is pound for pound [number one] so I'm in favor of everyone, but if I'm champion, I would like to defend [against] Karel.”
Tsarukyan scored a decisive victory over the popular Brazilian in April 2024, with Oliveira bouncing back with a stunning victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309.
“Us [first] the fight was very close, people think it was very close, and I would like to finish him.
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