Let’s take a step back to 2015. Islam Makhachev was still an up-and-coming prospect at the time and squared off against Adriano Martins at UFC 192. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t Makhachev’s UFC debut – but it was the only time he’s was defeated. Martins connected with a clean left hook that ended the fight in less than two minutes. Nearly ten years later, that loss remains a topic of discussion, though not for the reasons you might expect. Martins is now helping Tsarukyan prepare for his clash at UFC 311.

The move has not impressed the Dagestani camp and they feel it will not help the rival camp in the January 18 clash. Since that particular loss, Makhachev has grown as a fighter and improved the different aspects of his game as well. Also, the champion holds a slight advantage walking into the fight as he has previously defeated the 27-year-old. However, Martins feels this time things are a bit different as Tsarukyan is hungrier. He recently sat down for a chat with Ushatayka on their YouTube channel and shared how exactly he is helping the challenger prepare for the clash.

He said, “Yes I helped him in the camp. He’s tough and strong. He is a young guy and is also hungry. I tried to help him with my experience in MMA. It was his coach who invited me to take part. He wanted me to be there. I think my style is similar to the style of Islam. Takedown, constant pressure, pressing all the time that’s it. Yes, exactly I copied Islam Makhachev’s style that he has.” Tsarukyan isn’t looking back at Makhachev’s past just for confidence. He’s training with the only man to ever defeat the current pound-for-pound top contender inside the Octagon. Is it a clever strategy, or could it be a sign of desperation?

Well, all such answers will come to an end once the pair settles their differences inside the Octagon. The last time the pair faced each other the fight went the full distance and Makhachev won the fight via decision. Although he managed to win the fight Tsarukyan was able to impress everyone with his skill set. But what exactly happened that night? It seems Islam Makhachev was nowhere close to his best as revealed by him.

Islam Makhachev shares what exactly happened before his last fight with Tsarukyan

Imagine stepping into the Octagon while feeling completely drained and physically ill. That’s the situation Islam Makhachev found himself in during his first fight against Arman Tsarukyan in 2019. Makhachev was severely underweight, struggling with vomiting, and couldn’t keep food down. Despite all of that, he managed to push through and secure the win. “I barely made it to the fight,” Makhachev shared in an interview on Yukamma’s YouTube channel, offering fans a glimpse into the tough circumstances leading up to that bout.  Makhachev was originally expected to weigh around 80 kg (176 lbs) for the fight, but when he stepped on the scale, he was only about 73-74 kg (160 lbs).

The culprit? A nasty case of food poisoning. “I couldn’t recover in time. We couldn’t find halal food in St. Petersburg, so I ate some fish. My body couldn’t handle it,” Makhachev revealed. Despite not being in top condition, he still entered the cage and managed to leave with the win. Even the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s father, was worried about Makhachev’s condition. “I don’t like how you look,”. Abdulmanap told him ahead of the fight. Makhachev appeared pale and clearly unwell. “I wasn’t feeling great, but I figured once I stepped into the cage, things would improve,” Makhachev remembered.

This time, there are no excuses. Makhachev won’t be entering the cage under the weather – he’s coming in as the reigning champion, ready to prove a point. The question is, who comes out on top at UFC 311? Will Makhachev’s experience, skill, and peak condition be too much for Tsarukyan to overcome, or can the challenger’s determination and hunger lead to a shocking upset? Share your predictions in the comments below!