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

Tsarukyan and Machado Garry: Contenders Shine in UFC

The UFC world may have found its next number one contenders this Saturday. Arman Tsarukyan in lightweight and Ian Machado Garry in welterweight, offered outstanding performances that position them as serious title contenders. 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) dominated Belal Muhammad, former champion, securing a decision victory after three rounds. Tsarukyan, with a streak of five consecutive victories, already has his sights set on the 155-pound champion, Ilia Topuria. The Armenian fighter stated that he would be ready to face Topuria as early as January, if the UFC sends him the 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, who won the belt after knocking out Charles Oliveira in June, might have to consider Tsarukyan as his next opponent. Other options for Topuria could be 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 request a title fight. He could jump to the top of 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, albeit in very different ways. Tsarukyan controlled Hooker in the first and second rounds, finishing the fight with an arm-triangle choke at 3:44. It was a fight dominated by Tsarukyan, who maintained control for more than six minutes of the nine that the fight lasted. In the Machado Garry matchup, the fight unfolded entirely on the feet. Muhammad didn’t manage any takedowns out of seven attempts and was outstruck in the striking exchanges. Machado Garry punished him with jabs and right hands to the head, as well as a front kick to the body and the lead leg. All three judges awarded the victory to Machado Garry with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.

The landscape in the 155 and 170-pound divisions is dynamic. Topuria, former featherweight champion, has expressed interest in moving up again to face Makhachev at welterweight. Makhachev, for his part, had shown interest in defending his title against Kamaru Usman, but this was before Machado Garry’s impressive performance on Saturday.