LAS VEGAS – Beneil Dariush thinks Arman Tsarukyan has what it takes to threaten Islam Makhachev ’s title reign. It is expected that Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will challenge lightweight titleholder Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) later this year in a rematch of an April 2019 bout from UFC Fight Night 149, which saw Makhachev leave with a unanimous decision win a highly-competitive affair. Both men were young in the UFC at that time, but have come a long way since and will run it back at the top of the game. Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) is one of Tsarukyan’s most recent opponents, having suffered a 64-second knockout loss in their main event at UFC on ESPN 52 in December. Although Makhachev is the current No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dariush doesn’t think Tsarukyan is that far off
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