LAS VEGAS – Beneil Dariush he thinks Arman Tsarukyan Got what it takes to threaten Islam Makhachevtitle reign.
Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is expected to challenge lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) later this year in a rematch of an April 2019 UFC Fight Night bout 149, which I saw Makhachev leave with a unanimous decision victory a highly competitive subject.
Both were young in the UFC back then, but they have come a long way since then and will return to the top of the game. Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) is one of Tsarukyan’s most recent opponents, having suffered a 64-second knockout loss in the UFC on ESPN 52 main event in December.
Although Makhachev is the current No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter In the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dariush doesn’t think Tsarukyan is that far off.
“I thought he looked really good (against Charles Oliveira at UFC 300),” Dariush told MMA Junkie and other reporters during an interview on the UFC 2024 Hall of Fame red carpet. “I thought he looked really good against Charles. Charles is a very difficult fight for most people and he was able to pull it off. I think he has a good chance against Islam.”
Despite thinking Tsarukyan has a solid shot at the belt, Dariush struggles to fully commit to his pick against Makhachev and said the outcome will likely depend on a few key variables.
“I would prefer Islam, like 60-45 or 55-45,” Dariush said. “It’s going to be a close fight. I think Makhachev is better at conserving energy.”
