Final · 20 Apr 2019

Islam Makhachev defeats Arman Tsarukyan by Decision (unanimous)

Win Islam Makhachev 17-1-0

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik

20 Apr 2019 · Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia, RU

Decision (unanimous)

Round 3 · 5:00

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Loss Akhalkalakets Arman Tsarukyan 13-2-0

Makhachev vs Tsarukyan · UFC Fight Night 149

What happened

The result, the defining moments, and what the verdict means.

Tsarukyan initiated the clinch and first takedown, then worked free after Makhachev answered with a foot sweep and mount.

Tsarukyan remained patient after working free and continued to go shot-for-shot with Makhachev in the opening exchanges.

Makhachev pulled away in the final round by pushing a relentless pace and swarming Tsarukyan to secure the decision.

Watch

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Signature moments
Signature moments

Analysts

No verified pre-fight analyst picks are logged for this historical bout.

Track record rows appear only when a timestamped source has been reviewed.

Archive Pre-fight material — kept for transparency.
Makhachev vs Tsarukyan
Makhachev Tsarukyan
  1. OutputSig. strikes landed / min 2.63 3.85
  2. Striking def.Striking defense 61% 55%
  3. DurabilitySig. strikes absorbed / min 1.55 1.80
  4. Takedown def.Takedown defense 91% 75%
  5. FinishingFinish rate 67% 65%
16-1-0
Record
13-1-0
8-0 last 8
Recent formRecent formWin–loss record over the fighter’s last five bouts, newest first, as carried in their UFC/FightMetric career stats.
5-0 last 5
34
Age
29
1.78 m
Height — Makhachev leads
1.70 m
179 cm
Reach — Tsarukyan leads
184 cm
Southpaw
StanceStanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Orthodox
67%
Finish rateFinish %Finish rateThe share of a fighter’s wins that ended inside the distance — by KO/TKO or submission — rather than going to the judges’ scorecards. Higher means more finishes.
65%
5
Wins by KO/TKOKO/TKO wins — Tsarukyan leads
9
13
Wins by submissionSub wins — Makhachev leads
6
2.63
Sig. strikes landed / minStrikes / min — Tsarukyan leadsSignificant strikes landed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter lands for every minute of fight time — a read on striking output and pace. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
3.85
1.55
Sig. strikes absorbed / minAbsorbed / min — Makhachev leadsSignificant strikes absorbed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter takes for every minute of fight time. Lower is better — it means they get hit less often. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
1.80
61%
Striking defenseStrike def. — Makhachev leadsStriking defenseThe percentage of opponents’ significant strikes that do not land — strikes slipped, blocked or evaded. Higher is better. Not the same as striking accuracy, which counts your own strikes that land. From UFC/FightMetric.
55%
91%
Takedown defenseTD def. — Makhachev leadsTakedown defenseThe percentage of opponents’ takedown attempts that are stuffed. Higher means harder to put on the mat. From UFC/FightMetric.
75%
—
Avg. fight timeAvg. timeAverage fight timeThe mean length of the fighter’s bouts (minutes:seconds) — a rough read on whether they tend to finish early or go the distance. From UFC/FightMetric.
—
Russia
Nationality
Armenia
American Kickboxing Academy · San Jose
Team
American Top Team · Coconut Creek

Career stats per UFC.com; recent form is each fighter's last five bouts. Numbers reflect records coming into fight night. Bars compare each stat on a fixed scale; the “Edge” marker flags the leading corner where the gap is meaningful. The snapshot plots five career rates — output, striking defense, durability (strikes absorbed, inverted), takedown defense and finish rate — each normalised on its own scale.

Pre-fight analysis — how we saw it going in

Case for Makhachev

Makhachev brings superior submission depth and a more seasoned UFC track record — five wins from six fights, including finishes over Tibau and Kajan Johnson. His ability to control position and threaten submissions from every angle should neutralise Tsarukyan's athleticism over three rounds.

Case for Tsarukyan

Tsarukyan arrives on a 14-fight unbeaten run with elite wrestling credentials for the weight class. A UFC debut removes any crowd-psychology disadvantage, and a partisan Russian crowd in Saint Petersburg could energise both men. His aggressiveness and output could disrupt Makhachev's patient, methodical game.

What We Were Watching For

  • Whether Tsarukyan can survive Makhachev's submission attempts — he is one of the few debut prospects with realistic physical tools to muscle out of them.
  • Who wins the wrestling scrambles: both fighters have elite takedown credentials and neither gives the mat up easily.
  • Whether Tsarukyan's gas tank holds in the championship rounds — Makhachev's pace tends to punish opponents late when they tire.

Fighters

Islam Makhachev
16-1-0 · Lightweight
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Arman Tsarukyan
13-1-0 · Lightweight · Akhalkalakets
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Independent fan-made fight recap. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the UFC or any other MMA promotion. Analysis is editorial opinion, not betting advice. Fighter names and records are used for commentary. Image credits · Privacy · Terms.