last month, citing the quick turnaround. Makhachev, who was insistent on defending his lightweight title in the summer, went on to submitMeanwhile, Tsarukyan was fined $25,000 and suspended for nine months for throwing a punch at a fan during his UFC 300 walkout. However, Tsarukyan’s ban will be reduced to six months if he issues a commission-approved anti-bullying public service announcement, making him eligible to compete by Oct. 12.
“The openings I saw in Makhachev were the same ones I saw when he fought Volkanovski. He does slow down quite a bit and that could be a big factor,” Dariush toldalso slows down, and he slows down more. I think Islam’s best weapons are his takedown defense and his patience. So, I think he’s a better fighter economically speaking, than Tsarukyan. And I think that’s gonna be the key in the fight. I think the fight’s gonna go into the later rounds and that’s gonna be what helps Makhachev.
Tsarukyan made his UFC debut on short notice against Makhachev in 2019, giving the Dagestani a run for his money despite ending up on the short side of a unanimous decision. While Dariush believes the win gives Makhachev a slight advantage, he also suggests the champ should draw from his shortcomings in that fight.
“I think it does give him an advantage but also there is one problem with it,” Dariush said. “I think he also has to remember like, ‘Man I had weaknesses in these places and this guy was able to take advantage of that.’ So, he has to think about that as well… It’s gonna be interesting who makes the bigger adjustments. Because the fight was so close last time, and I think the fight will be close again. And I think it’s the energy conservation of Makhachev that’s gonna win the fight.