Aljamain Sterling calls out popular MMA page over headline about Islam Makhachev's "wrestling game" - "Do better"

Islam Makhachev's wrestling isn't as strong as it's made out to be, at least according to Arman Tsarukyan. However, a well-known MMA page on X/Twitter penned a headline about Tsarukyan's comments and exaggerated them, drawing criticism from Aljamain Sterling.

The former UFC bantamweight champion quoted the tweet in question and called on the page in question, MMA UNCENSORED, to do better with their reporting of the events in MMA, as he believed it tot be a gross mischaracterization of what Tsarukyan had said.

"How is this particular quote "trashes Islam's wrestling game?" Do better"

Much has been made about not just Makhachev's wrestling but the Dagestani school of wrestling as a whole, which has generated tremendous fear and awe in the sport ever since Khabib Nurmagomedov's legendary rise. Now, the UFC lightweight title is held by his successor, Islam Makhachev.

While Makhachev doesn't implement as suffocating and relentless a wrestling game as Nurmagomedov did, he is more technical, with a varied takedown game. Regardless, Tsarukyan is more than confident in his own skills, especially regarding his defensive wrestling.

Not only is Tsarukyan a skilled defensive wrestler, his physicality has allowed him to resist the takedowns of high-level grapplers like Mateusz Gamrot and Beneil Dariush. He is exceptionally difficult to control, and his offensive wrestling is dangerous as well.

He recently defeated former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira via split-decision at UFC 300. He survived some scary moments on the mat, with Oliveira eager to catch him in a submission, but Tsarukyan's wrestling and control proved strong enough to earn him the win.

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Islam Makhachev had one of his most difficult fights against Arman Tsarukyan

While Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan are scheduled to lock horns at UFC 311 for the former's lightweight title, their first outing was one of the most competitive fights Makhachev has ever had. At UFC Fight Night 149, Tsarukyan mounted a valiant effort in his promotional debut.

He went tit-for-tat with Makhachev in the wrestling and grappling department, but his gas tank failed him as the fight progressed. After all, Tsarukyan had accepted the matchup on short-notice, and his waning cardio allowed Makhachev to take over and win a thrilling unanimous decision.