Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is closing as a significant betting favorite to turn in his second career win over incoming title challenger, Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 this weekend — as the pound-for-pound kingpin looks to defend his crown for a fourth time.
Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, returns to action this weekend in Inglewood, California — taking on Armenian challenger, Tsarukyan in a re-run of their first pairing back in 2019.
Sidelined since last June, Makahchev most recently headlined UFC 302, successfully defending his 155lbs crown for the third time consecutively with a fifth round D’Arce choke submission win over former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier.
Islam Makhachev closing as betting favorite to beat Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311
And just days out from the matchup, Islam Makhachev is closing as an interesting -325 betting favorite to beat the +265 betting underdog, Arman Tsarukyan — with the best odds available at the link provided whether you’re betting on this title fight or checking out the Premier League odds ahead of a huge weekend of sport.
Himself sidelined since UFC 300 last April, Tsarukyan most recently featured in an officially-billed title eliminator with common-foe and former champion, Charles Oliveira, turning in a controversial win.
Forcing the prolific Sao Paulo finisher the distance over the course of three rounds in a championship challenger decider, Tsarukyan would rack up a close, debated split decision success.
Ahead of the pairing, Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan have shared a rather cordial narrative ahead of their pairing, however, this week, the tension was raised a tad by the Russian, who poked fun at his incoming foe’s failure to stop Oliveira as promised in the first round — particularly after he claimed he had a “secret” technique to utilize this weekend at UFC 311.
“Man, I told you don’t believe what Arman (Tsarukyan) says,” Islam Makhachev said Wednesday at UFC 311 media day. “Because last time, he said (he) will finish (Charles) Oliveira in one round, but they go all distance, and he won by split decision. That’s why don’t believe him.”
Furthermore, Makhachev claimed that while he doesn’t believe Tsarukyan will provide his most difficult title challenge to date — in a bout he claims could be “easy” for him, he maintains he can’t afford to rest on his laurels against him.
“If I give him a chance to work, he’s going to be dangerous,” Islam Makhachev explained. “He’s going to be tough fight, but all of the guys who I fought lost five times. I don’t know, they always dangerous. Oliveira, one of the most dangerous guys in our division.
“How many submissions, how many knockouts he has? Volkanovski, one of the toughest guys in our sport. It’s MMA. All fighters, contenders, when you fight for the title, are all dangerous. If I let them work, it’s going to be a tough fight, but if I can follow my plan, it’s going to be easy inshallah.”
Before his UFC 311 headliner, Makahchev and Tsarukyan will come after a title grudge fight between undisputed bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, and unbeaten challenger, Umar Nurmagomedov.
