Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan face intense battle before UFC 311

Last Thursday night (16) marked the first face-to-face meeting between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan before the long-awaited rematch for the lightweight belt (under 70.3 kg) in the main fight of UFC 311, the first event numbered 2025, this Saturday (18), in Los Angeles, in the United States.

After the event's official press conference, champion and challenger took the stage for the traditional face-off. The two had an intense but respectful look, keeping their gaze fixed, practically without blinking or looking away for a few seconds before greeting each other. When it was time to pose for photos, there was another quick face-off between the rivals before Makhachev took the belt.

Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan faced each other for the first time in 2019, when the Armenian made his UFC debut. The duel ended in a unanimous decision victory for the Russian, who was already beginning to build an impressive sequence of victories that culminated in winning the lightweight belt in 2022. In the rematch against the Armenian, the champion seeks to become the first fighter in history to defend the category belt four times.

With Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan in the main fight, UFC 311 features another title fight as the co-main attraction. In the bantamweight category (up to 61.2 kg), Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

From Super Fights.