Oh, the drama in the MMA world never takes a break, does it? Arman Tsarukyan clapped back at Islam Makhachev recently. And boy, did he have words to say.
“That’s just not truth.” A simple sentence, but loaded with defiance. Tsarukyan is calling out Makhachev for wanting a fight on short notice. Why? To snag an “extra advantage,” according to Tsarukyan.
He’s adamant, though. “It won’t happen again though.” Tsarukyan’s throwing down the gauntlet, making it clear he’s not falling for that again. And then, he hits with a question that packs a punch. “When was the last time you fought 2 times in 6 weeks?” Directly tagging Makhachev, no less. Ouch.
Switching gears, let’s talk about Tsarukyan’s recent win. He snagged a split decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. That’s no small feat. It was pretty much a golden ticket to a title shot.
But here’s where it gets spicy. Tsarukyan was offered a shot at Makhachev for UFC 302. Short notice was the deal breaker, though. So, he passed, and Dustin Poirier got the nod instead.
Makhachev? He wasn’t shocked. Claimed he saw it coming since Tsarukyan has dodged him before. “This guy talk about rematch all his life,” Makhachev said, throwing some serious shade. He was convinced Tsarukyan would never take the fight if he won against Oliveira.
Let’s not forget, Tsarukyan and Makhachev have danced in the Octagon before. Their first encounter was Tsarukyan’s UFC debut. Despite the loss, Tsarukyan gave Makhachev a run for his money. Now, with Tsarukyan accusing Makhachev of seeking an unfair edge with short-notice fights, the plot thickens.
So, what’s next for these two? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure, the MMA world is never short on drama. And frankly, we live for it.