Islam Makhachev successfully defended the lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Makhachev’s next fight is likely in October at UFC 308 in UAE, possibly against Arman Tsarukyan. However, Tsarukyan recently received a 9-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. At this juncture, Beneil Dariush has suggested an alternative title challenger for Makhachev.
Gamrot Difficult to Handle Over Five Rounds
Beneil Dariush recently received the Forrest Griffin Community Award at the UFC Hall of Fame 2024. The Iranian-American’s alternative suggestion is a contender he had beaten but has a victory over Tsarukyan. When asked about the title picture due to Tsarukyan’s suspension, Dariush suggested Mateusz Gamrot, currently on a three-fight winning streak.
“I think he’s a fantastic fighter with a skill set that makes him very difficult for a lot of people. His cardio is endless; that was one thing I noticed going into the third round—he’s the same guy he was in the first round. I was making adjustments, obviously, but he’s not an easy guy to fight. So, five rounds of Mateusz Gamrot, that’s a problem,” said Dariush.
The 35-year-old Dariush lost his last two fights against Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. However, his last victory was against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280. Before UFC 280, Khabib Nurmagomedov had picked the Polish fighter as a future title contender. If Tsarukyan vs. Makhachev II doesn’t materialize, Gamrot vs. Makhachev will likely happen at UFC 308.
However, Tsarukyan can reduce his suspension to 6 months if he promotes an anti-bullying message. The NSAC suspended him for punching a fan who disrespected him at UFC 300. Having given Makhachev a tough fight as a 22-year-old debutant, many see the Armenian as the biggest stylistic threat to the pound-for-pound king.
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