Arman Tsarukyan is ready to bully Islam Makhachev around in the cage.
That was just too easy to open with on my part. We're still waiting for Tsarukyan to reduce his nine-month suspension from the NSAC with a requested anti-bullying PSA after his UFC 300 fan altercation. After that, nothing should stop him from receiving the rematch of his UFC debut against the now-champion.
Well, I take that back. Makhachev has a torn ligament in his hand after beating Dustin Poirier into almost-retirement at UFC 302 in June. Therefore, the champ's wishful thought of returning in Madison Square Garden this November isn't looking likely. Regardless, Tsarukyan plans to only fight for gold in his next fight, whether with or without Makhachev.
“I am the No. 1 contender,” Tsarukyan told Artem Tarasov. “[Makhachev] says that I only talk, how can a person talk and be in the top one? It turns out I’m not just talking, I’m also doing and proving it with my actions.
“I became No. 1 and proved to the whole world that I am a contender for the title, and my next fight will be only for the belt. So it could be an interim title if he doesn’t have time to recover his hand. If he recovers his hand, it will be even better for me.”
Tsarukyan, 27, continued his winning ways with a fourth straight triumph (22-3) at UFC 300 this past April, defeating former champion Charles Oliveira via split decision. Since he joined the promotion in April 2019, Tsarukyan has only tasted defeat twice with the first coming in his aforementioned debut against Makhachev via unanimous decision.
The American Top Team (ATT) product appears to be in luck when it comes to the security of his title shot thanks to Makhachev’s injury and Belal Muhammad's recent welterweight title coronation. Due to the relationship between the two champions, the idea of a champion vs. champion bout has been nixed by each. That leaves the lightweight and pound-for-pound great Makhachev to try and break the divisional title defense record, which he tied at three with his fifth-round d'arce choke of Poirier.
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The MMA Hour.
Unexpected UFC finishes.
Full fights (and a match).
McGregor v McGregor.
Usman’s return.
No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss Marcin Tybura and Serghei Spivac Rematch at UFC Vegas 95, plus Olympics wagers.
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!
Love these.
Sexiyama doing Judo things vs Leben and Shields #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/AK0jxCneYE
— The Underrated MMA Tribal Chief (@MMAUnderrated) August 7, 2024
Gold St-Pierre.
If @GeorgesStPierre could chose one Olympic sport to compete in, which one would it be? #Paris2024
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 7, 2024
Catch an all new Paris Tonight with @arielhelwani at 11 pm ET on @cbcgem & on the CBC Sports YouTube channel pic.twitter.com/myQM93sYx8
Smashing.
#OnThisDay in 2021: @Ciryl_Gane became the first French born champion in UFC history!
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 7, 2024
Watch the full fight on @UFCFightPass now and get 35% off an annual subscription! pic.twitter.com/LOBNyvZc4T
Caption.
Shocker.
In just one week the cheapest UFC 306 ticket has dropped from $3000 to $1400 pic.twitter.com/elDZrf1Hzn
— OverDogs Podcast | Kanpai Media (@OverDogsPodcast) August 7, 2024
Hype.
.@PFLMMA presents Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact on Oct. 19 pic.twitter.com/j128xEpwzy
— . . (@kidceej) August 7, 2024
The void.
Into the unknown pic.twitter.com/LPRjb6KrWE
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) August 7, 2024
Posters.
Official Poster #UFCParis (Vertical, Landscape & IG version) pic.twitter.com/G44xqfA5Ec
— Marcel Dorff (@BigMarcel24) August 7, 2024
Champ things.
Hate it or Love it pic.twitter.com/MFosVSrqzE
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) August 7, 2024
Born for it.
Awareness.
LISTEN TO THIS pic.twitter.com/BbQxJl1zd7
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) August 7, 2024
It would appear so.
To this day Israel Adesanya's toughest opponent is still his shirt at a weigh-in pic.twitter.com/Ua427T731V
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) August 7, 2024
Chris Gutierrez (20-5-2) vs. Quang Le (8-0); UFC Vegas 95, Aug. 10
Cris Cyborg (27-2, 1 NC) vs. Larissa Pacheco (23-4); PFL Super Fight PPV, Oct. 19
Francis Ngannou (17-3) vs. Renan Ferreira (13-3); PFL Super Fight PPV, Oct. 19
Jessica Penne (14-7) vs. Elise Reed (7-4); UFC Vegas 99, Oct. 19
Abus Magomedov (26-6-1) vs. Brunno Ferreira (12-1); UFC 308, Oct. 26
Chris Weidman (16-7) vs. Eryk Anders (16-8); UFC 309, Nov. 16
Very happy to finally see Cyborg vs. Pacheco made official. That card should be pretty awesome if it stays together unlike the one in February.
Thanks for reading!
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