Arman Tsarukyan points to Islam Makhachev after Volkanovski says 'you ain't holding me down'

Makhachev knocked out Volkanovski at UFC 294 in 2023, and Volkanovski says he would vacate his featherweight title to fight Tsarukyan if Justin Gaethje retires.

Arman Tsarukyan has answered Alexander Volkanovski's claim that he could not hold the featherweight champion down by bringing up Islam Makhachev.

"He said Islam Makhachev cannot knock him out too," Tsarukyan said in an interview posted on Instagram, as quoted by Bloody Elbow. Makhachev knocked out Volkanovski at UFC 294 in 2023 after the Australian accepted the rematch on short notice.

Volkanovski made his comments on The Ariel Helwani Show. "Everyone knows how I do against wrestlers. Everyone knows I can handle wrestlers," he said. He added: "I think he's one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the UFC, but you ain't holding me down. I've got so much respect for him, but I'm getting back up, and we're standing and fighting."

On the same show, Volkanovski said he would give up the featherweight title to fight Tsarukyan for the lightweight belt if lightweight champion Justin Gaethje retires. He stopped Movsar Evloev in round two at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi to keep his title.

Tsarukyan has already said he would fight Volkanovski. "I think it's a good fight for me, stylistically," he told Helen Yee Sports. "He's old. Bad chin." On whether Gaethje will fight or retire, he said: "They told me they're going to let me know at the end of November."

READ NEXTColby Covington faces Raul Rosas Jr as Danis, beaten by Arman Tsarukyan, withdrawsRead the next story →

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google