TriStar MMA head coach Firas Zahabi says Arman Tsarukyan has made the lightweight division more interesting.
Tsarukyan picked up the biggest win of his career as he scored a first-round knockout win over Beneil Dariush in the main event of UFC Austin to become an immediate title contender.
As of right now, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is expected to face Charles Oliveira next, and will then fight Justin Gaethje. However, Zahabi is hoping the UFC makes the rematch between Tsarukyan and Makhachev which he says is a very intriguing matchup.
Firas Zahabi hopes for Tsarukyan-Makhachev rematch
“Guys, Tsarukyan is making me believe he can do it. I’m super excited about the lightweight division now, I’m super excited. I hope they put this fight together. Tsarukyan’s not getting the praise he deserves. Let me count his win streak here. He has three wins in a row, he lost to Gamrot, that was a very, very close fight with Gamrot, I did give it to Gamrot, but I could have seen it go both ways, it was very complicated fight, a very complicated fight to score,” Zahabi said on his YouTube channel.
“Besides that, his last (loss) was against Islam Makhachev. He beat Olivier (Aubin-Mercier), he beat Davi Ramos, he beat Matt Frevola, he beat Christos Giagos, Joel Alvarez, Damir Ismagulov, Joaquim Silva, that was a very dangerous fight, he got hit with a left hook, he was stunned and got on top. He now he just knocked out, or TKO’d, I should say, Beneil Dariush. There’s no other name really that makes me think they can beat Islam Makhachev,” Zahabi continued.
Currently, it is expected that Charles Oliveira will get a rematch with Islam Makhachev sometime in early 2024. However, if Zahabi has his way and is booking fights, he believes Arman Tsarukyan is the logical next option for Makhachev.
