Islam Makhachev Earns A Unanimous Decision Win Over Arman Tsarukyan In A Wonderful Wrestling Fight!
UFC on ESPN+ 7 is happening live now (Saturday, April 20, 2019) from inside Yubileyny Sports Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The co-main event of the evening brings the 155-pound bout between the former Combat Sambo champion of the world Islam Makhachev and dangerous rising prospect Arman Tsarukyan.
The referee in charge for this contest is Herb Dean. Here we go!
Round 1
Fighters touch gloves. Arman misses with a right high kick. Islam misses with a left high kick by a hair. Arman works on that leading left jab, right high kick blocked. Islam keeps a southpaw stance.
The low kick missed Tsarukyan, he slipped away, Islam went for a takedown but missed, now Tsarukyan made a reversal and took him down on the canvas but Islam got up immediately. Arman attacks with a single leg. Islam is pressed against the cage, but he makes a great reversal and puts his hands around the opponent’s waist.
Wow, what a takedown by Makhachev, he falls into the mount.
Islam trapped Tsarukyan’s right hand, but Arman slips away well, uses butterfly guard and gets up. Islam grabs him, he is pressed against the cage.
Great wrestling takedown Makhachev!
It seems Tsarukyan got up again, what a fight, now both fighters are against the cage, Makhachev controls the fight. Wow, what a knee to the head, but Arman goes for a takedown!!! Makhachev defends, this is outstanding.
Arman takes him down, world-class fight!!!
Now Arman is on his back, he wrapped his arms around Makhachev’s waist, but Islam rotates and both fighters end up in the clinch. Islam can’t trip Arman, great defense, and knee to the body Tsarukyan. Good uppercut Makhachev, and the two separate.
Tsarukyan goes under Islam’s punch and attempts a single leg takedown, but Makhachev defends well. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 2
Awesome kick to the body Arman. Wow, great left high kick by Makhachev, but Tsarukyan returns with a high kick, this match is fantastic.
The low kick missed by Arman. Tsarukyan goes for a takedown but Makhachev sprawls and defends.
An outstanding right hand of the clinch Arman!!!
Low kick Tsarukyan! A right high kick landed by Tsarukyan, who attempted a spinning back kick too. Fighters are in the clinch again, fighting for position. Good punches to the body on both sides. Arman has under-hooks in. It seems this knee landed to Makhachev’s mid-section.
Good takedown attempt, but awesome defense by Tsarukyan. Makhachev pressed him against the cage.
Makhachev takes his opponent down, ends up in the full guard.
Arman won’t finish this Kimura, Makhachev slips out. Islam transits to the side guard. But Tsarukyan stood up, man what a match! Now Islam is pressed against the cage, Arman works to secure a single leg, but Islam sprawls and makes an excellent transition.
Arman is pressed against the cage now, but Islam can’t secure a takedown, the Armenian defends well. Who’d say this is his first UFC fight?
The end of the round. I am unsure again who won.
Tsarukyan’s corner advises him to stay away from a takedown and fight toe-to-toe with Makhachev!
Round 3
Arman goes for a big combo, this is an outstanding punch exchange. A high kick missed by a hair. Tsarukyan delivers a big punch and a head kick. Arman ate a big shot. Right-hand miss by Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan goes for a right high kick, blocked. Great body punch by the Armenian, who goes for a takedown, but Islam sprawls and defends a single leg takedown. Arman grabbed his left leg but Islam remains on his feet and pressed Arman against the cage. Both fighters are in the center of the cage. Good elbow and a spinning back kick missed by Arman.
Makhachev went for a takedown but his rival defends and presses him against the cage.
Excellent takedown by Makhachev.
A fantastic right hand to the face, Tsarukyan rotates on his stomach, this might be dangerous. Islam controls his back, but Arman stands up. Tsarukyan is pressed against the cage, Makhachev wrapped both hands around rival’s midsection, and he pressed the Armenian against the fence.
Another takedown Makhachev.
Full guard Makhachev. Arman uses butterfly guard to defend. Arman attempts Kimura but Islam moves to the side control and defends. Islam makes another transition and traps Armenian’s legs. 10-9 Makhachev.
Check out the highlights below:
Beautiful takedown by @MAKHACHEVMMA#UFCStPetersburg pic.twitter.com/b8LEwc0drt
— UFC (@ufc) April 20, 2019
Takedowns and Submission attempts! What a technical battle!#UFCStPetersburg pic.twitter.com/Uti4B5QLDA
— UFC (@ufc) April 20, 2019
BIG takedown by @MAKHACHEVMMA#UFCStPetersburg pic.twitter.com/0h4hXuSDtY
— UFC (@ufc) April 20, 2019
That's 5️⃣in-a-row for @MAKHACHEVMMA!#UFCStPetersburg pic.twitter.com/xzcMtYHVAc
— UFC (@ufc) April 20, 2019
Pros reaction:
Those guys are no joke!! #UFCStPetersburg
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 20, 2019
Sick fight. Great fight. Insane pace!
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 20, 2019
What a fight!#UFCStPetersburg
— UFC (@ufc) April 20, 2019
Final Result: Islam Makhachev defeats Arman Tsarukyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Islam Makhachev improves the score to 17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC, Arman Tsarukyan drops to 13-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC.
