Can you imagine stepping into the Octagon when you’re not just physically drained but literally sick to your stomach? That’s exactly what Islam Makhachev faced in his first fight against Arman Tsarukyan in 2019. He was seriously underweight, vomiting, and barely able to keep his food down. But, somehow, Makhachev pushed through and emerged victorious. “I barely made it to the fight,” he revealed while appearing for an interview on Yukamma’s YouTube channel, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at what was going on before that bout.

So, what exactly happened? Well, Makhachev was supposed to be at 80 kg (176lbs) for the fight, but he weighed in at just 73-74 kg (160lbs). The reason? A bad bout of food poisoning! “I couldn’t recover in time. We couldn’t find halal food in St. Petersburg, and I ate some fish. My body couldn’t handle it,” Makhachev explained. His body was not in peak shape, yet he still managed to step into the cage and manage to walk out the victor.

Islam Makhachev dice que en su primera pelea con Arman Tsarukyan en 2019 tuvo una intoxicación alimentaria debido a que comió algún pescado en mal estado y estuvo vomitando, su peso estaba en los 73-74 kg cuando debería haber sido 80 kg

📹YT yuka_mma#UFC311 #UFC pic.twitter.com/Z5rkGcak1p

— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) December 29, 2024

Even Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was concerned about Makhachev’s health. “I don’t like the way you look,” Abdulmanap said before the fight. And Makhachev was indeed pale and visibly unwell. “I wasn’t feeling good, but I thought once I’m in the cage, it’ll get better,” Makhachev recalled.

Despite being far from 100%, he defeated Tsarukyan by unanimous decision. But here’s the kicker, the Dagestani wasn’t just dealing with an opponent in front of him, he was fighting his own body. And even with the odds stacked against him, he came out on top.

Was Arman Tsarukyan’s ‘toughest fight’ against Islam Makhachev, fact or fiction?

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Arman Tsarukyan has been hyping up their first fight for years, claiming it was his toughest battle. But is that the real story? Shamil Zavurov, Makhachev’s training partner, doesn’t think so. He fired back recently, saying, “Arman didn’t show anything remarkable in that fight. He’s been acting like he gave Islam his toughest fight, it wasn’t even close.”

Think about it, the lightweight kingpin was vomiting and still dominated the fight. Zavurov explained, “Islam was feeling sick, throwing up after the fight, and still managed to beat him with ease.” So, was the Armenian really as impressive as he claims, or did Makhachev’s illness make it look closer than it was?

Fast forward to today, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Makhachev is now the reigning lightweight champion, fresh off his title defenses, and Tsarukyan has earned the No. 1 contender spot after a hard-fought win over Charles Oliveira. With both fighters in peak condition, how will this rematch play out?

Makhachev’s journey since that fight has been one of growth, and learning from his past struggles. “The recovery process should be careful, unhurried. I’ve learned from my mistakes,” he said. And Tsarukyan? He’s been steadily climbing the ranks, sharpening his skills, and pushing himself further than ever before. But with the reigning champion fully prepared and at the top of his game, will the #1 contender’s improvements be enough to take the belt?

This time around, there will be no excuses. Makhachev isn’t walking into the cage sick, he’s stepping in as the dominant champ with everything to prove. Who takes it this time at UFC 311? Is Makhachev’s experience, skill, and fully fit body too much for Tsarukyan to handle, or will the challenger’s hunger and relentless drive be enough to pull off an upset? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!