Every fighter seems as tough as titanium in the Octagon, but what goes on behind the scenes often tells a different story. Many UFC veterans step into the cage battling far more than their opponents—some with broken shoulders, others with barely healed surgical scars, and some still recovering from prolonged illnesses. Yet, when the lights go up, they show no signs of weakness.

Sometimes, only after a victory do we learn what they endured during the fight. This was the case with Islam Makhachev in his first showdown against Arman Tsarukyan back in 2019.

Makhachev’s camp reveals health scare before first fight against Tsarukyan

Islam Makhachev delivered a dominant performance against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik back in 2019, securing a decision win over the Armenian. However, it turns out the Dagestani wasn’t fighting at full strength, as revealed by his friend and training partner Shamil Zavurov.

In a post by Red Corner MMA, Zavurov shared insight into the conditions surrounding Makhachev’s first fight with Tsarukyan. He explained, “Arman has been hyping himself up a lot over the past 6 to 12 months, bringing up things from the past. But he didn’t show anything remarkable in that fight. He’s been acting like he gave Islam his toughest fight—it wasn’t even close. Islam was feeling sick, even throwing up after the fight, and still managed to beat him with ease.”

With growing speculation about a possible rematch for the 155lbs title between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, fans and analysts are revisiting their first showdown. Zavurov has weighed in on how much the two fighters have evolved since that fight but gave the edge to his close friend. “Arman has improved his wrestling, but back then and now, those are completely different levels,” Zavurov said. “Islam has gotten much better, and when you become a champion, the mindset is different too. I believe Islam will win.”, he declared.

Tsarukyan, however, is confident he can capitalize on what he sees as Makhachev’s one vulnerability: endurance. After watching Makhachev’s recent title defense at UFC 302, where he secured a fifth-round submission win over Dustin Poirier, Tsarukyan noticed a potential opening. “I could outwrestle him in that fight because he got tired,” Tsarukyan said on The MMA Hour. “When you’re tired, you can’t do anything. Even if you have the best skills in the world, if you’re exhausted, you’re done.”

Team Khabib is already rallying behind Makhachev, dismissing Tsarukyan’s claims and sending a firm warning to him ahead of a possible rematch.

Arman Tsarukyan gets a warning from Team Khabib.

Arman Tsarukyan has expressed bold confidence in his ability to outsmart Islam Makhachev, even with Khabib Nurmagomedov and his elite team in Makhachev’s corner. “He’s not only going to outsmart Islam,” AKA head coach Javier Mendez responded with a wry smile, “He’s going to outsmart me, Khabib, Magomed, and the whole team because we’re all playing a role in this.”

Mendez’s sarcasm was clear, showing he was unfazed by Tsarukyan’s statement. Tsarukyan has certainly backed up his words with solid performances, most recently impressing at UFC 300, and his observations about Makhachev’s endurance issues weren’t entirely unfounded. However, team Khabib is known for thorough preparation and strategic adaptability, and they’ll be ready for any challenge Tsarukyan brings.

Should the rumored rematch happen at UFC 311, it could be a defining moment for Makhachev. A win would not only silence critics but also place him one spot above Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legendary record of three lightweight title defenses cementing his own legacy in the 155lbs division.

With the lightweight division in an uproar and the stakes higher than ever, the question remains: can Makhachev rise to the occasion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!