Who's picking Arman to win?

[Karate Kid]

i do. i see Arman catching Islam and capitalising on that as im not a fan of how islam reacts to certain shots and his hesitance in the latter rounds as i can see this being his second time being KO'd or a narrow decision win by a younger hungrier Arman.


but if Islam decimates him it should not be a surprise to anyone. Dustin v Islam is a far more poignant match to judge current Islam v Arman than their first match 5 years ago.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

From my perspective it seems like everyone thinks Islam is an easy pick in this one, but I really do think Arman stands a great chance here.
Islam had trouble taking down and holding down Volk and Poirier, So I don't think it's crazy at all to think that Arman should be able to stop the takedowns as well.
I think this fight will largely play out on the feet and I'm not really sure who is the cleaner striker, but Arman is young & dangerous.

I'm going to lean Arman via KO/ TKO.

On one hand, I feel that Islam looked far better than Arman did against a common opponent in Charles Oliveira, but on the other hand, the first time Arman and Islam fought, Arman was in his early 20s. I favor Arman in this fight as I feel he has improved a lot more than Islam since their first bout. I like him by decision in a very fun fight full of scrambles and a lot of technical exchanges.

 

[Skarsgard]

I'm taking Arman because I think Islam is starting to slow just a bit. In his fight against Dustin he looked less sharp, more hittable, and like his tank wasn't as deep. Dustin absolutely could have just been the best version of himself that we've ever seen, but he's also the same guy who had just had a close scrap with BSD and Gaethje before the respective finishes.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

Of course Arman is capable of winning. It should be a very competitive fight.
But if you're confidently picking him to win, you're fooling yourself.
Wishful thinking, perhaps.

 

[gentel]

I think Tsarukyan is pretty far above Islam physically, he already looked stronger at 22y/o and now Islam is 33y/o so past his physical peak. Tsarukyan landed that KO bomb on Dariush and I think his boxing jab looked good against Oliveira

Islam does have advantages in terms of the judo trips and a more intentional gameplan with the striking. Tsarukyan's biggest flaw is that he seems to slip and fall a lot, like the slip that set off the Oliveira guillotine situation

Islam's still a killer but overall I think the odds favor him way too much, closer to a 50/50 fight and I think I'll be picking Tsarukyan

 

[JKS]

Can't decide on this one.

 

[JonnyBonesPharmacist]

I think Arman takes it. I saw who he's been training with.

 

[Luthien]

Islam wins

 

[Uber_Noober]

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Islam should win again

I just hope he has a smooth weight cut cause that will be one factor that can really diminish his performance/chin

 

[bng]

ar-man via flying axe-kick
sponsored by axe

 

[pick999]

Islam out wrestles him again and wins with submission in the 4th

 

[HuskySamoan]

From my perspective it seems like everyone thinks Islam is an easy pick in this one, but I really do think Arman stands a great chance here.
Islam had trouble taking down and holding down Volk and Poirier, So I don't think it's crazy at all to think that Arman should be able to stop the takedowns as well.
I think this fight will largely play out on the feet and I'm not really sure who is the cleaner striker, but Arman is young & dangerous.

I'm going to lean Arman via KO/ TKO.

I think Arman and Merab stand great chances vs Islam and Umar but I just seem to favor the Dagestanis. Both are of them bigger, more well rounded and have just lost way less. I think Arman will have a tough time, his cardio was worse than Islams the first time they fought and he faded to lose a controversial decision vs Gamrot too. Standing I see better technique from Islam offensively and he's such a defense first fighter. Just seems really tough, Arman doesn't have tons of power nor the best boxing and I doubt he's going to come in vs the best grappler in MMA who's longer than him and throw a lot of kicks either. I think their wrestling is close to even but once it hits the mat, Islams top control, back takes and submissions are arguably better.

 

[Doughie99]

I think Arman has a v good chance to get the surprise win. He's got a better chance than almost anyone else.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

me, he's gonna leave'em slumped.

 

[Karate Kid]

what its really going to come down to, above all, is how well tuned they are that day. that usually is the case when two fighters have similar traits. to clarify the latter point, a lot will say Arman & Islam being very good at striking & wrestling means they are similar fighters, they are not. at all in fact.

but due to how complete they can be in both regards is why my initial point is what will be the deciding factor here. Islam & dustin wasn't anywhere near as close as anyone says but camp Nurmagomedov clearly has spoken for months on their regrets and mistakes during that fight and i cannot see that happening again this time.

Arman looks the best he ever has as his training methods are world class so just like the first fight, this is bound to be a very high level and technical spectacle.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Arman is fast and explosive, I think his chance to win is to land something big early like he did with Dariush and hurt Islam and get his respect. But Islam is one of the most defensively minded fighters in the UFC, I think he will counter Arman when he comes forward and piece him up to a 49-46 decision win

 

[RichardHarrow]

Islam via submission