UFC 300 outcomes, highlights: Arman Tsarukyan outpoints Charles Oliveira in bloody battle, requires title shot

Arman Tsarukyan’s path to a light-weight title shot and a rematch with champion Islam Makhachev seems extremely shut to finish. 

Regardless of a harmful D’Arce choke try within the closing seconds of Spherical 3, Tsarukyan was capable of survive till the ultimate horn to barely outpoint former champion Charles Oliveira by way of break up choice on Saturday in a featured 155-pound bout at UFC 300 inside T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.

Tsarukyan (35-9) relied on well timed takedowns and a affected person offensive assault to maneuver one step nearer towards avenging a aggressive choice loss to Makhachev in his UFC debut again in 2019. The Armenian-Russian, who was born in Georgia, took residence a pair of 29-28 scores whereas the third decide scored it the identical for Oliveira. CBS Sports activities additionally scored the bout 29-28 for Tsarukyan.

“It was 5 years in the past in my UFC debut on brief discover that I gave Makhachev his hardest struggle up to now,” Tsarukyan stated. “I will win if he simply offers me that chance, that is it.”

Whether or not or not Tsarukyan will get the following shot at Makhachev may rely upon timing as veteran Dustin Poirier is recent off of a breakthrough stoppage win over Benoit Sant-Denis. The subsequent light-weight title challenger may additionally come from the winner of Saturay’s BMF title bout between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway. 

Both method, Tsarukyan placed on a efficiency worthy of title consideration as he broke free from a deep guillotine try in Spherical 1 in opposition to Oliveira, who holds the UFC report for each submission and stoppage victories. 

Much more importantly, Tsarukyan by no means misplaced his poise or gameplan throughout the pure chaos that Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC) brings to just about each struggle. Tsarukyan labored a key takedown in Spherical 2 and went on to chop Oliveira’s face with flush elbows. 

“Thanks a lot to Oliveira. He is without doubt one of the good guys in our division who gave me this chance,” Tsarukyan stated. “I do not know why one decide gave it to him but it surely’s OK. It does not matter as a result of I received and I need to struggle for the title subsequent. I will be the youngest champion within the 155-pound division.”

With the struggle seemingly up for grabs getting into the ultimate spherical, Tsarukyan secured a late takedown in Spherical 3 and retained management till a late Oliveira reversal produced a threatening choke within the closing seconds. 

“I believed it was going to be all judges going to offer it to me however it’s what it’s,” Tsarukyan stated. “I bought a win simply by taking on the end and Charles is so powerful that I’ve to work on my expertise and are available again a lot stronger.”   

Tsarukyan improved to 9-1 since his loss to Makhachev, which features a disputed choice defeat to Mateusz Gamrot in 2022. Oliveira, 34, suffered his first defeat since being submitted by Makhachev of their vacant title bout two years in the past.