Max Holloway: 'It's hard to bet against | MMA News
Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev places his title on the road within the UFC 311 essential occasion on Saturday and will make UFC historical past with a win.
Makhachev is tied together with his coach Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J. Penn and Benson Henderson for essentially the most UFC light-weight title battle wins (4). With a victory, Makhachev woul arguably be the best light-weight within the promotion’s historical past.
Standing in the way in which of Makhachev sitting atop the UFC light-weight file books is a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan and Makhachev first fought in July 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s octagon debut whereas Makhachev had six fights within the group underneath his belt. Makhachev defeated Tsarukyan by way of unanimous choice and 6 fights later he’d be the UFC 155-pound champion.
Since the loss to Makhachev, Tsarukyan went on to win 9 of his subsequent ten fights. He’ll enter the title bout using a four-fight successful streak together with knocking out Beneil Dariush in 64 seconds and narrowly defeating former champion Charles Oliveira to earn the UFC 311 title shot.
Former featherweight titleholder Max Holloway weighed in on the UFC 311 essential occasion rematch on his YouTube channel and located it hard to decide against the champion.
Related: Robert Whittaker provides his UFC 311 essential occasion prediction
“Islam vs. Arman, this is going to be a fun fight. It’s a rematch. I’ve got nothing but respect for the two dudes. Great fighters. Smart fighters,” Holloway mentioned. “All I’m going to say is, it’s hard to bet against Islam. It’s hard to bet against the champ, especially in his for as of late. He’s not only been relying on his grappling, he’s been showing us that he’s been working hard on his striking.”
“You’ve got to respect his wrestling. You’ve got to respect the ground, so with his striking getting better he’s hanging in there with you in striking. You’re nervous about being taken down because he’s so strong and his grappling is so great that it’s tough.”
While Tsarukyan was ready to take Makhachev down of their first assembly on short discover, Holloway pointed to the marked enhancements by the champion over the past six years.
“Arman can finish Islam. Islam can finish Arman. Does this fight get a finish? I don’t know,” Holloway mentioned. “I think it’s going to have great striking exchanges and really, really, really good grappling exchanges.”
“If I had to bet money, it’s hard to go against the champ. I think Islam takes this one,” Holloway continued. “I think Islam, if he doesn’t win all five rounds, I think he gets four decisively… And I think he gets a decision here.”
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