Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 1/18/25 UFC 311 Best Bets and Preview

Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 1/18/25 – In what is expected to be gripping rematch, Islam Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title once again at the UFC 311 against Arman Tsarukyan. Islam Makhachev holds an impressive 26-1-0 record while Tsarukyan boasts a respectable 22-3-0. The stakes couldn’t be higher as this match is a title bout. The enormity of this fight can be gauged from the fact that fighters of such elite caliber are fighting for the championship. This fight will serve as not only a testament to their diverse skill sets but also a significant juncture in their respective career trajectories.

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The lines favor the current champion Islam Makhachev greatly with a moneyline of -320. There is a good reason the odds favor him. The current champion has been dominating the UFC since his recent reign. Challenger Arman Tsarukyan has been labelled as a strong underdog standing at +260, which gives a great chance for the people betting who believe in huge upsets to earn a profit. Given the proximity of their first fight and the improvements Tsarukyan has made, the odds are likely offering good value here.

Main Card

Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev is on a streak of incredible performances. He has only lost once in his career and that was in the early stages of it which makes sense as subdued as he was. He has been an evolving champion since then and is noted for his grappling skills as well as a notable tactical understanding of the game. Islam has on average 3.19 takedowns in a match spanning 15 minutes with a whopping accuracy of 53 percent. He aims to control the match on the ground while being able to fend off takedowns at a staggering 90 percent. Moreover, his striking accuracy is at 59 percent and his defensive accuracy is at 61 percent which allows him to perform extremely well both on the ground as well as in standup fights. His recent win against Dustin Poirier only strengthens his argument of being named the most feared fighter in the lightweight arena.

Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan, or “Ahalkalakets,” is deemed an underdog, Makhachev should not ignore his record and stats. His slightly more aggressive striking game – 3.79 significant strikes landed per minute, and higher strikes absorbed – means, he isn’t afraid to throw some hands. His 37% takedown accuracy percentage is lower but still matches closely with Makhachev’s average takedowns indicating that he does have some skill in grappling exchanges. Turkey vs Russia predicted lineup. His grappling of Makhachev’s caliber will perhaps touch on Tsarukyan’s takedown defense of 75 percent. Tsarukyan most recently defeated Charles Oliveira who is a veteran with abundant skills which goes a long way in proving that he is still pursuing elite fights.

This rematch presents a very interesting disparity in terms of approaches and skills. Makhachev’s grappling as well as his striking makes him the favorite to continue wearing the belt. The pace and direction of the fight could be a substantial problem for Talos, as his striking skills are his only chance of winning unless he has developed his takedown and control defensive skills. The betting lines illustrate what can be deemed as Makhachev’s likely superiority in the bout, while Tsarukyan’s recent showings might provide an array of expectations that need to be reconciled, as he appears to be harder to beat than what many consider.

On the whole, more risk-tolerant individuals may be able to count on Tsarukyan’s striking and enhanced game plan as potential factors to take into consideration from wager perspectives but Makhachev does appear to be a more inviting option as per safer bets owing to his more refined and aggressive style. The bout will focus heavily on strategy and gameplay, as its title suggests.