Reigning UFC light-weight champion, Islam Makhachev, has 26 skilled victories in opposition to only one defeat, a first-round knockout loss to Brazilian bruiser Adriano Martins as a part of the UFC 192 blended martial arts (MMA) occasion again in 2015.
Martins, now 41, parted methods with the promotion simply a few years later, however may play an import function within the upcoming UFC 311 pay-per-view (PPV) occasion, the place Makhachev will rematch No. 1-ranked light-weight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
“Ahalkalakets” (22-3) might be seen coaching with Martins in his Instagram tales.
This ought to be acquainted territory for each combatants. Makhachev defeated Tsarukyan by unanimous resolution at UFC St. Petersburg again in early 2019, which helped the champ leap out to an early betting favourite for subsequent month’s title combat.
No matter who prevails, this former titleholder expects to attain the winner.
“90 % [of the crowd] goes to be my followers,” Tsarukyan instructed Ariel Helwani. “I’m shocked [he agreed to the fight] as a result of it’s not his territory. I assumed he wished to possibly combat in Saudi Arabia or Dubai or some place else, however not in California. California is an Armenian city.”
Earlier than UFC 311’s five-round fundamental occasion will get underway, newly-crowned bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, makes his first 135-pound title protection reverse No. 2-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov (with this ex-champ in attendance).
For the remainder of the UFC 311 combat card and PPV lineup click on right here.
