Tsarukyan’s reach is two inches longer, and he claims he’s prepared a “special trick” for the fight. However, Makhachev is UFC’s best pound-for-pound fighter for a reason, so we expect him to prevail and successfully defend his belt. However, Tsarukyan could have value at 3/1 odds.

Everything you need to know ahead of UFC 311 as the UFC's undisputed lightweight and bantamweight titles are on the line in Inglewood, California.

Reigning champion Makhachev is 33, while Tsarukyan is significantly younger at 28. That age gap also translates into a major difference in Octagon experience. Islam made his UFC debut in May 2015, whereas Arman didn't make his promotional bow until nearly four years later (in what became his first loss to Makhachev).

UFC 311 is headlined by a lightweight championship rematch between titleholder Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. Look back at their first fight.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) challenges lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) in a rematch, which headlines the Jan. 18 event from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., and airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan might be former foes, but they're not bitter rivals. The next UFC lightweight title fight is a rematch six years in the making, with current champion Makhachev defeating a 22-year-old Tsarukyan in his promotional debut back in 2019.

Lightweight prospect Esteban Ribovics believes that Arman Tsarukyan’s ‘secret weapon’ could pay dividends against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311.