No.2-ranked UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan believes Islam Makhachev would have had little trouble dealing with Ilia Topuria had the two stars met at the UFC White House event.
During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan was asked how he thought a potential showdown between Makhachev and Topuria would have played out. The Armenian gave a straightforward answer, backing the pound-for-pound king to secure an early finish. He said:
“Islam would’ve finished him in the first round and choked him out.”
Tsarukyan also questioned Topuria’s confidence in his wrestling abilities, suggesting that the Spaniard’s grappling credentials are being overstated.
“He was talking about his wrestling, but how? Gaethje took him down with a high school technique.”
Check out Arman Tsarukyan’s comments below:
Arman Tsarukyan questions Ilia Topuria’s wrestling credentials
Ilia Topuria has consistently expressed confidence in his ability to compete with elite wrestlers, even previously stating that he would have welcomed a fight against Islam Makhachev. The undefeated Georgian-Spanish superstar has established himself as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world thanks to his elite boxing, knockout power, and improving all-around game.
However, Arman Tsarukyan believes Makhachev’s grappling would have represented an entirely different challenge.
The 29-year-old knows exactly what it feels like to share the Octagon with Makhachev. The pair first met in 2019, with Tsarukyan pushing the Dagestani star in a highly competitive wrestling battle before ultimately losing via unanimous decision. Since then, ‘Ahalkalakets’ has repeatedly praised Makhachev’s strength, control, and ability to dominate opponents on the ground.
A clash between Makhachev and Topuria had long been discussed by fans due to the latter’s rapid rise through the rankings and his willingness to challenge bigger opponents. While the fight never materialized, it remains one of the biggest hypothetical matchups in modern MMA.
Tsarukyan’s comments are certain to spark debate among fans, particularly given Topuria’s recent performances and undefeated record. Nevertheless, the top lightweight contender remains convinced that Makhachev’s elite wrestling and submission game would have been too much for ‘El Matador’ to handle.
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