Arman Tsarukyan is determined to leave no stone unturned in his pursuit of the lightweight title as he locks horns against Islam Makhachev next month. On the other hand, Makhachev will look to make history as he eyes a record 4th title defense at UFC 311. Despite the Dagestani’s dominant reputation, Tsarukyan is confident that he is the man to dethrone him.

In an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the Armenian outlined why he believes he’s better equipped than ever to take down the champion. When asked, “Why do you say you’re the only guy in the division who can beat him (Islam Makhachev)?” ‘Ahalkalakets’ confidently responded: “First of all, I know how to wrestle very well. Secondly, I’m young and hungry. I’ve never had a belt, so that drives me a lot. I have plenty of energy for training, and I believe in myself. I’m the guy who is going to beat him.”

Tsarukyan’s claim is particularly bold when considering their first encounter, where he was still a newcomer to the UFC and lacked the experience he has now. Since that time, the top-ranked contender has significantly evolved. However, Makhachev’s rise to dominance is hard to overlook. Undefeated since 2016, the reigning champion has systematically dismantled opponents, continuously improving his grappling and striking.

Despite this, ‘Ahalkalakets’ is undeterred. He recently trained with Islam Makhachev’s former rival, Adriano Martins, the only fighter to defeat the Dagestani sensation. Amid the hype surrounding Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan has even challenged the narrative built in the lightweight division. Let’s scroll down and see what the Armenian has to say next.

Arman Tsarukyan questions the narrative surrounding Islam Makhachev

Since Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, his protege Islam Makhachev has swiftly filled the void, dominating the lightweight division and ascending to the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. While the reigning champion has won the admiration of fans, not everyone is sold on his reign. Despite his unbeaten streak dating back to 2016, Tsarukyan has a different take—he believes Makhachev’s accomplishments are overstated.

The Armenian native had no hesitation in questioning Makhachev’s invincibility. In the same interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Tsarukyan said, “He’s not that good like people think. People think he’s unbeatable, like crazy wrestling, but I took him down when I was 22 years old.” Their first fight took place on short notice, and though ‘Ahalkalakets’ wasn’t fully prepared then, he has since evolved into a much more skilled and dangerous fighter, now with 22 overall wins and just a few losses to his name.

Now, with the UFC lightweight title within reach, Tsarukyan is brimming with confidence. He believes he has the tools to dethrone Islam Makhachev and shake up the division. So, what’s your take on the Armenian’s bold claims? Do you think he has what it takes to overcome the reigning champion at UFC 311 and bring new energy to the lightweight division? Share your thoughts below.