Media Robert Whittaker: There’s 'Skill Gap' Between Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

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Robert Whittaker: There’s 'Skill Gap' Between Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan

Robert Whittaker doesn’t think Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan are on the same level.

www.sherdog.com

Robert Whittaker doesn’t think Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan are on the same level.

Makhachev puts his lightweight title on the line in a rematch against Tsarukyan in the main event at UFC 311 on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Tsarukyan previously dropped a hard-fought unanimous decision against Makhachev in his short-notice UFC debut in 2019. Tsarukyan has since lost only once in 10 outings and comes off a split-decision win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024.

Meanwhile, Makhachev has defended his title three times since winning it against Oliveira in 2020. The Dagestani star comes off a fifth-round submission win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June, which many consider to be his toughest test to date. Tsarukyan is widely expected to pose the biggest threat so far to Makhachev’s championship reign.

However, Whittaker doesn’t think so. The Australian sees an evident skill difference between Makhachev and “Ahalkalakets” based on their latest outings. According to “Bobby Knuckles,” Makhachev is a tough customer to beat at this stage in his career.

“I understand how good Arman Tsarukyan is,” Whittaker said on the MMA Arcade podcast. “But I just feel like if we look at Islam’s last fight with Dustin and we look at Arman’s last fight with Charles, I just feel like there’s a skill gap. And everyone’s saying how well Arman went in his debut, short notice etc., etc. But you look at the names, you look at the level of fights, you look at the stage that Islam’s fight was set on, I don’t know, I just see … Islam’s in a really good place right now. I find it very hard to see him getting defeated.”

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@Sakuraba'sEar

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@Neck&Neck @Horiguchi'sEar

Rob judgement is bad, Arman is way better than people give him credit for.

 

[Conan the K-9]

I was kinda rooting for Arman, but he just did an interview saying after he wins the title, hes going for superfights.
Nah Im tired of that messing up the divisions.
I hope islam embarrasses him.

He said he would give both former champions their rematches, and will take fights where he is getting offered most money from the UFC.

 

[Preston broadus]

If Islam makes this look easy then nothing but respect, feels like a 50/50 fight, and I got no problems with some fans leaning towards Arman.

If he makes it look easy he has to move up and challenge belal or shavkat.

I think it'll look like the 1st fight for 3 rounds but even more technical and Islam finishes him in the 4th or 5th.

I agree with Robert. I don't see arman getting over that skill gap. He loses the striking and the wrestling.

 

[SamuraiBro]

I think it’s 50/50. After seeing the Islam Dustin fight, I don’t see a large skill gap.

 

[Zaar]

It's impossible to know what to read lol. Everything is jumbled.

This.

The posts, the "breaks", the "ads", the "whatevers"......it all sorta blends in together into one big chaos mass -.-

 

[seanb1979]

Man this new update sucks. Tremendously.

yup literally the worst graphical change ive seen to any site, ever... i wonder who they outsourced this trash to?

 

[rjmbrd]

Whittaker quite literally said it based on was their last fight:

“I understand how good Arman Tsarukyan is,” Whittaker said on the MMA Arcade podcast. “But I just feel like if we look at Islam’s last fight with Dustin and we look at Arman’s last fight with Charles, I just feel like there’s a skill gap.

There is only any possible confusion if you're a blatant hack when it's said point blank like that.

It's okay dog, even our favourite fighters can make completely retarded statements. They get hit in the head for a living.

What about reading that sentence makes you think he isn't specifically referencing that Arman struggled with Charles, who Islam murdered?

To boot Islam put away Poirer and was winning on the cards. You are just an angry poster all the time, no substance here. Carry on angry pants.

 

[AmonTobin]

They're both world beaters and the first fight was a close as can be but I do think Islam has probably improved the most since that time. That being said, Arman is still elite enough to steal this if Islam makes any mistakes. This one could be a an absolute barn burner. Massive title fight and headliner.

 

[RockyLockridge]

This is a 50/50 fight.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded. any perceived skill gap favoring Islam can be mitigated by armen's youth