Arman Tsarukyan has openly scoffed at Ilia Topuria’s recent assertion that he could submit Islam Makhachev. During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s show, Tsarukyan expressed his disbelief, famously remarking, “Submit Islam? Even Khabib cannot submit Islam.” He went on to suggest that Topuria would have a better chance of knocking Makhachev out than achieving a submission victory.
Tsarukyan Questions Topuria’s Submission Prediction Against Makhachev
Khabib Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as one of MMA’s greatest grapplers, significantly influenced Makhachev’s fighting style. Nurmagomedov retired undefeated and dominated the UFC lightweight division through his exceptional wrestling, control, and submission skills. Tsarukyan’s statement implies that Makhachev’s defensive grappling is so formidable that even Nurmagomedov would find it difficult to secure a submission against him.
“Submit Islam? He has a better chance of knocking out Islam than submitting him. I don’t think even Khabib can submit Islam.”
Makhachev boasts an impressive grappling record, recently adding to it with a first-round D’arce choke submission victory over Renato Moicano at UFC 311. This win marked his latest successful lightweight title defense, surpassing records held by former champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson, and B.J. Penn.
Makhachev also achieved a significant milestone by becoming a two-division UFC champion, defeating Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at UFC 322. This move vacated the lightweight throne, paving the way for new contenders. Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria then seized the vacant lightweight belt with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, reigniting discussions about how a potential fight between Topuria and Makhachev would unfold – striking or grappling.
However, Topuria has remained confident in his abilities, expressing his intention to take Makhachev down and submit him if given the opportunity. He envisioned such a victory as a world-shocking event, reflecting his recent displays of self-assurance regarding potential lightweight matchups. Social media clips have also highlighted a more assertive version of this claim, where Topuria reportedly stated he would ask Makhachev for his preferred submission and then defeat him with it in front of Khabib.
Tsarukyan’s counter-argument stems from his firsthand experience. Having competed against Makhachev previously, Tsarukyan is recognized as a knowledgeable voice on elite lightweight wrestling. In essence, Tsarukyan argues that submitting Makhachev is a significantly more challenging feat than submitting most other fighters, even for a confident and dangerous opponent like Topuria.
For the time being, Tsarukyan’s stance is unequivocal. He is not entirely dismissing Topuria’s chances but rather asserting that if Topuria is to win, it is far more probable through striking rather than a submission against one of the division’s most accomplished grapplers.
