Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan · Full Fight Recap
Video status
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.
- Official UFC resultsUFC Saint Petersburg results
Fight breakdown
Read the tactical story round by round.
0:00 Round 1
Tsarukyan shoots early and becomes the first fighter to take Makhachev down in the UFC, using elite wrestling to disrupt the favourite's rhythm in the opening exchanges. Tsarukyan looks for a guillotine from the clinch, forcing Makhachev to defend — but Makhachev works his way free and the round stays competitive through the striking.
- 0:58R1 · Tsarukyan takedownTsarukyan becomes the first fighter to take Makhachev down in the UFC, shooting successfully in the opening exchanges
- 2:45R1 · Tsarukyan guillotine attemptTsarukyan goes for a guillotine from the clinch, forcing Makhachev to defend and work his way back to neutral
5:30 Round 2
Makhachev seizes top position midway through the round and controls along the cage. Tsarukyan attempts a kimura from bottom to create space, but Makhachev nullifies it and continues to accumulate control time — a preview of the positional dominance that will define his championship run.
- 7:00R2 · Makhachev takes topMakhachev controls from top position; Tsarukyan attempts a kimura from bottom but Makhachev stifles it and continues to accumulate control time
11:00 Round 3
Makhachev presses for the finish in the final frame, chaining submission attempts and stifling Tsarukyan's counter-attack. Tsarukyan shows heart and durability but cannot escape the positional vice. The decision goes to Makhachev on all three cards in a Fight of the Night performance — the first chapter of what will become one of the sport's defining rivalries.
- 14:00R3 · final submission huntMakhachev presses for the finish with multiple sub attempts as both fighters battle through the championship round