Arman Tsarukyan recently threw some shade at Islam Makhachev’s “invincible” rep. You know, the kind of talk that gets fans buzzing.
And, oh boy, did it buzz.
Tsarukyan’s been itching for a rematch since his UFC debut. That’s when Makhachev handed him a unanimous decision loss. It was a bit of a rough start, but hey, everyone’s got to start somewhere, right?
Fast forward a bit, and Tsarukyan’s making waves. He clinched a split-decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. That’s no small feat, folks.
But then, plot twist! He got offered a title shot against Makhachev for UFC 302. And… he turned it down. Said it was too soon. The quick turnaround wasn’t for him. So, the opportunity slid over to Dustin Poirier. Life’s funny like that.
Tsarukyan’s got this belief, see? He thinks he doesn’t need a fancy, specialized training camp just for Makhachev. Nope. He’s all about getting ready for any challenge, especially if it’s for the UFC title.
Now, here’s where it gets spicy. Tsarukyan claims the whole “Makhachev is special” narrative? All hype. Built by fans. Despite Makhachev’s knockout loss in his UFC debut against Adriano Martins back in 2015.
“It was people who came up with the idea in their heads that Islam is special,” Tsarukyan spilled the beans to KPSport. “The same person, but they made him an undefeated champion. Although he also lost too, he was also knocked out. We are all human, we can all lose. There is no need to make Makhachev an invincible superhero.”
So, there you have it. A little drama, a bit of truth, and a whole lot of fighting spirit. Just another day in the world of MMA.