Islam Makhachev’s rise in the UFC has been nothing short of remarkable. A protégé of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Makhachev carved his own path with dominant grappling and precise striking. He is all set to defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan at the upcoming UFC 311 event.

However, the challenger is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation and has roped in Adriano Martins, the man who handed Makhachev his first and only career loss. The Brazilian surprised everyone with his victory against Islam Makhachev. But what exactly does he feel about the victory? Let us take a look at what he had to say about it.

Adriano Martins feels the fight with Islam Makhachev was stopped correctly

Back in 2015, Islam Makhachev was an up-and-coming prospect when he stepped into the octagon against Adriano Martins at UFC 192. Contrary to popular belief, this wasn’t his UFC debut, but it ended up being the only blemish on his record. Martins caught Makhachev with a clean left hook, finishing the fight in less than two minutes. Nearly ten years later, that moment still gets brought up – not because it defines Makhachev, but because of how much he’s grown since then. The loss became a turning point, fueling his rise to the top of the lightweight division.

Martins is now helping the challenger prepare for his title fight at UFC 311. Although the Dagestani camp feels there will be no advantage, the 27-year-old is looking to gain a mental edge. Martins recently sat down for a chat with Ushatayka where he revisited his famous victory over the champion. While he did enjoy the victory he pointed out how the referees stopped the fight at the right moment which led to no further damage.

On being asked whether he was happy with the stoppage the fighter had no problem in sharing his opinion on the whole. He said, “Yes Yes I think so it was a good stoppage by the referee. Because Makhachev was already asleep in the cage. If the referee hadn’t stopped the fight I would have continued to beat him. And it’d have gotten worse for him. I think so.” Makhachev has moved on from the loss and has become one of the best fighters in the division. He has improved the different areas of his game and it will be a hard night for the challenger.

But the biggest question is why Tsarukyan roped in Adriano Martins to help him prepare for his battle. Is he trying to play mind games with his opponent? Or is he trying to replicate the way Islam Makhachev fights? The Dagestani fighter is a machine inside the Octagon and is a master grappler with incredible knockout power. But it seems Martins is doing exactly all these things as revealed by him.

Adriano Martins looking to mimic Islam Makhachev’s fighting style in training

Is studying Islam Makhachev’s lone career loss the key to beating him? Arman Tsarukyan seems to think so. As he prepares for UFC 311, Tsarukyan has brought in Adriano Martins – the only fighter to defeat Makhachev – to help with his camp. However, Javier Mendez, head coach of Team Khabib, isn’t convinced that revisiting that fight will make much of a difference. The champion enters the fight with a slight edge, having already beaten the 27-year-old once before. But Adriano Martins believes the rematch feels different, pointing to Tsarukyan’s hunger and determination.

In a recent interview with Ushatayka on YouTube, Martins discussed how he’s contributing to Tsarukyan’s preparation. He shared insights into the specific strategies and techniques they’re working on, aiming to give the challenger the best chance to pull off the upset.

“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.”, said Martins. Tsarukyan isn’t revisiting Makhachev’s past just to boost his confidence. He’s actively training with the only fighter to ever hand Makhachev a loss in the Octagon.

Whether this move is a smart tactical decision or a sign of reaching for answers remains to be seen. Can Arman Tsarukyan win his fight at UFC 311? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.