Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan will rematch with the largest stakes potential after they conflict for the light-weight title within the UFC 311 foremost occasion.
After Makhachev spoiled Tsarukyan’s short-notice promotional debut in April 2023 with a unanimous determination win in the Battle of the Night time, the pair will run it again on Jan. 18 on the recently-opened Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
UFC officers introduced the Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) vs. Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) headliner in a social media submit on Wednesday (by way of X):
First PPV of 2025 is a BANGER 🔥@MAKHACHEVMMA vs @ArmanUFC 2@MerabDvalishvil vs @UNmgdv #UFC311 on the @IntuitDome | 🎟️: https://t.co/dX45J0Cwpw pic.twitter.com/QE3Evz1uQr
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2024
Makhachev, No. 2 within the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie pound-for-pound rankings and No. 1 at light-weight, is driving a UFC-best 13-fight successful streak, and will likely be on the lookout for a 3rd consecutive protection of his 155-pound title.
The pupil of UFC Corridor of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, the 33-year-old Makhachev has already defended gold in opposition to Dustin Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski by stoppage, and his present streak additionally contains the likes of Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker, in addition to the conquer Tsarukyan at UFC Battle Night time 149.
Tsarukyan, No. 2 at light-weight, has earned his option to his first UFC title shot and the rematch with Makhachev by way of a sequence of notable victories. The 28-year-old knocked out Beneil Dariush in 64-seconds in December, then adopted it up with a cut up determination victory over former divisional kingpin Oliveira at UFC 300 in April.
Chatting with MMA Junkie throughout UFC 308 struggle week in October, Tsarukyan mentioned he intends to go away little question with the result in opposition to Makhachev and will likely be looking for a end.
“You’ll be able to’t say it’s going to be a simple struggle,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “I attempt to suppose it’s going to be straightforward for me, and I don’t wish to suppose it’s going to be a call. I wish to end him.”
The newest UFC 311 lineup now contains:
- Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan – for light-weight title
- Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov – for bantamweight title
- Jamahal Hill vs. Jiri Prochazka
- Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
- Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
- Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
- Muin Gafurov vs. Rinya Nakamura
- Bogdan Guskov vs. Johnny Walker
- Ailin Perez vs. Karol Rosa
- Sedriques Dumas vs. Zach Reese
- Raoni Barcelos vs. Payton Talbott
- Bernardo Sopaj vs. Ricky Turcios
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 311.
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