"I'm scared for Islam," "He's so done" - Fans divided after Arman Tsarukyan shares sparring footage ahead of Islam Makhachev fight at UFC 311

Arman Tsarukyan recently offered fans a glimpse into his training camp as he gears up for his highly anticipated title clash against Islam Makhachev. 'Ahalkalakets' is set to challenge reigning lightweight champion Makhachev in the main event of UFC 311, slated for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The first UFC pay-per-view of 2025 will bring these two competitors back into the octagon for a rematch. Their initial clash took place in April 2019 at a Fight Night event, where Tsarukyan put up a spirited effort in his promotional debut but was ultimately outmatched, losing to Makhachev by unanimous decision.

Now, with an opportunity to avenge his previous defeat and the title on the line, Tsarukyan appears to be sparing no expense in his preparations for UFC 311. The 28-year-old Armenian recently posted a video from the freezing heights of Russia's Elbrus Mountains, where he can be seen engaged in a sparring session.

Check out the training video of Arman Tsarukyan below:

Check out the full video below:

Fans responded to Tsarukyan's training video with an array of reactions. Many praised his impressive shape, suggesting he could pose a serious challenge to Makhachev, while others believe 'Ahalkalakets' might once again find himself on the losing end.

One fan wrote:

"Damn. He's looking ripped!!! Gonna be an exciting match-up! Let's go! Vamos!"

Another wrote:

"He's so done. His next fight will be in the early prelims!"

Another commented:

"I'm scared for Islam."

Check out some more reactions below:

Comments from @Home_of_Fight on X

Tsarukyan is riding a four-fight win streak, with his most recent victory coming by way of a hard-fought split decision against former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024. That win earned him his first title shot.

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Javier Mendez discusses whether Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan rematch will be different

Arman Tsarukyan has tasted defeat only once and secured nine victories in his last 10 bouts since his loss to Islam Makhachev. Meanwhile, Makhachev went on a dominant nine-fight win streak following their encounter, which includes three successful title defenses.

During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, Makhachev's coach, Javier Mendez, acknowledged the significant evolution in both fighters' skill sets since their last encounter.

However, he expressed confidence that there is no new challenge 'Ahalkalakets' can bring that the lightweight champion won't be able to handle:

"I don't know as to what area is going to be different. It's going to be what he's going to give us that we're going to take. Islam, like I said many times, we can switch him from round to round, minute to minute, second to second, and how he fights... So Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and I would have to assess what Arman comes to the table, and we'll have to see what we need to do to adjust. It could be ground or stand-up; it doesn't matter... Because Islam can do it all."

Check out Javier Mendez's comments below (13:30):