Arman Tsarukyan: Version of Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 “would be a very easy fight for me”

After watching Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, Arman Tsarukyan is confident he can beat him.

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) defended his lightweight title with a fifth-round submission win over Dustin Poirier in the main event last Saturday. Tsarukyan is considered the next title challenger as he looks to avenge his loss to Makhachev in his UFC debut.

Tsarukyan saw Makhachev slow down against Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) and believes he would take advantage if he got tired in the fight. Makhachev confirmed speculation that he was battling a staph infection less than a month after the fight.

“It would be a very easy fight for me,” Tsarukyan said on The MMA Hour. “I could beat him in that fight too because he got tired. When you’re tired, you can’t do anything. Even if you have the best skills in the world, when you’re tired, you’re done. All of his five-round fights – he got tired with Volkanovski, he got tired with Dustin, and hopefully that’s going to be my key to winning this fight.”

Poirier remained persistent, fending off several takedown attempts and even ramming Makhachev with an elbow strike. Tsarukyan expected a good performance from Poirier.

“I wasn’t (surprised),” Tsarukyan said. “I knew he had a very good heart and I told everybody the odds were 60-40. Everyone was like, ‘Oh, Islam is 100 percent going to beat him. He’s not going to give him a chance,’ but I knew it was going to be a tough fight. Dustin is a dog so I wasn’t like that – his defensive wrestling was super good and Islam couldn’t choke him. When he got tired in the fifth round, yeah, he got him.

“It wasn’t his best performance. He got tired and was slow. I feel like Islam isn’t in very good shape or maybe he got sick or whatever. I’m not judging him for his last fight, I’ve seen all his fights and I take him seriously. He’s the best fighter, pound for pound. I’m just going to prepare like he’s the best version of Islam Makhachev. I’m not going to underestimate him. Dustin can defend his wrestling, I’ll defend it too.”

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie