Tsarukyan and Machado Garry shine at UFC Qatar: Next contenders?

Tsarukyan and Machado Garry Position Themselves as UFC Contenders

The UFC world may have found two number one contenders this weekend, with standout performances from Arman Tsarukyan at lightweight and Ian Machado Garry at welterweight. Tsarukyan (23-3) submitted Dan Hooker in the second round in the main event of the UFC Fight Night held at the ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar. For his part, in the co-main event, Machado Garry (17-1) won by unanimous decision against former champion Belal Muhammad. Tsarukyan has accumulated five consecutive victories and has his sights set on the 155-pound champion, Ilia Topuria, declaring that he would face him in January if the UFC offers him a contract.

We have to face it; there is only one number one contender and it’s Arman Tsarukyan. Don’t make an easy fight. I’m ready, at the end of January. Send me the contract and I’ll be there.

Arman Tsarukyan

Topuria hasn’t competed since he won the vacant title after knocking out Charles Oliveira in June. Among his possible rivals for his first title defense are Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Machado Garry, from Ireland, has won 10 of his last 11 fights and also took advantage of his post-fight interview to call for a title fight. Machado Garry could move up the list of potential opponents for the newly crowned champion Islam Makhachev.

I just beat the number one contender. Nobody else is ranked above him. Islam, Belal couldn’t take me down, so he tries to take me down. I am the best in the world. You have a duty to defend yourself against the best in the world.

Ian Machado Garry

The individual performances in the main and co-main events were notable, although in very different ways. Tsarukyan took Hooker to the ground in the first and second rounds, and secured an arm-triangle choke at 3:44. It was a very uneven fight in which Tsarukyan dominated for more than six minutes of a nine-minute fight. Machado Garry’s confrontation, for his part, took place entirely standing. Muhammad failed his seven takedown attempts and was outmatched standing. Machado Garry punished him with jabs and right hands to the head, as well as a front kick to the body and the front leg. The three judges scored the fight in favor of Machado Garry, with results of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

There are many movements in the 155 and 170-pound divisions. Topuria, former featherweight champion, has expressed interest in moving up again to face Makhachev at welterweight. Makhachev stated last weekend that he was more interested in a title defense against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but that was before Machado Garry’s impressive performance on Saturday.