According to a former UFC fighter, Arman Tsarukyan’s decision to withdraw from his fight against Islam Makhachev earlier this year was a “100-IQ play.
For context, ‘Ahalkalakets’ was slated to rematch Makhachev at UFC 311 for the lightweight championship. However, he pulled out at the eleventh hour because of a back injury, after which Renato Moicano stepped in as a replacement and was submitted in Round 1 by the Dagestani. After cementing his legacy at lightweight by defending his belt four times, Makhachev moved up to welterweight and recently dethroned champion Jack Della Maddalena.