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'A Threat To Islam Makhachev's Throne' - MMA Fans React To Arman Tsarukyan Quickly Starching Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night Austin
Image: Dustin Safranek/USA TODAY Sports

'A Threat To Islam Makhachev's Throne' - MMA Fans React To Arman Tsarukyan Quickly Starching Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night Austin

Originally posted on MMA News  |  By Thomas Albano  |  Last updated 12/2/23

In April 2019, current UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan put on an entertaining Fight of the Night performance in St. Petersburg, Russia — a fight that Makhachev won on the scorecards.

Now four years on, Tsarukyan has moved to within touching distance of earning a rematch with his Russian peer. The 27-year-old did so by making quick work of Beneil Dariush in the main event of Saturday's UFC Fight Night event in Austin.

While Dariush came out with a patient, kick-focused attack to start, it didn't take long for Tsarukyan to bring things to an end. After a right hand was blocked, the Russian-Armenian threw a big knee strike and followed it up with a right hand on one leg that sent Dariush crashing to the mat.

After knocking the top five contender unconscious, Tsarukyan proceeded to call out Makhachev for a rematch in 2024

Tsarukyan Targeting Redemption Against Makhachev After Brutal KO Of Dariush

Check out some of the reactions to Tsarukyan's quick KO below.

Saturday's headliner marked Dariush's first fight since suffering a first-round TKO loss at the hands of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 in June. 

Before that setback, the Iranian-born American had risen up the lightweight ranks with an eight-fight win streak that saw him defeat the likes of Mateusz Gamrot, Tony Ferguson, and Drew Dober.

Tsarukyan, meanwhile, entered tonight with just three losses in his professional MMA career. He had won seven of his last eight and 19 of 21. Prior to tonight, his most recent bout came in June at UFC Vegas 75, where he scored a third-round finish of Joaquim Silva.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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