Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan appear to have a date with destiny.

The pair of tantalizing lightweights are no strangers to each other. Makhachev welcomed Tsarukyan to the Octagon for the first time in April 2019. Five years after Makhachev’s unanimous decision victory, both are the top two in the division with Makhachev as the champion and Tsarukyan the top-ranked contender.

Tsarukyan, 27, has been critical of Makhachev’s most recent title defense, a fifth-round D’arce choke of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 one weekend ago. The contender believes the champion has continually shown weaknesses, particularly in the cardio department, and would have beaten him easily if they rematched at the event. Makhachev countered with the following statement when speaking to Russian media (h/t Red Corner MMA) upon his return home.

“He just talks a lot,” Makhachev said. “He can’t get any attention through his fights, so he’s trying to do this by talking. He had his shot, I beat him once. I guess I’ll have to do it again.

“I wasn’t exhausted. I was fresh ahead of every round. It’s almost impossible for an exhausted fighter to choke his opponent in the fifth round. Poirier is one of the best and he keeps improving. He was choked out in two title fights, so he was probably preparing for it. He was well prepared. I was trying to choke him out in the first round. I had a lot of power, but he defended it well.”

Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 will likely be the next lightweight title tilt, as UFC CEO Dana White indicated after Makhachev’s win. Both men have expressed their interest in potentially colliding inside the world-famous Madison Square Garden at the end of the year.

Although Makhachev is fine with a Tsarukyan sequel on his plate for a potentially historic fourth title lightweight defense, he has some different preferences. It’s no secret that Makhachev ideally hopes to challenge for welterweight gold sooner rather than later. If he could do it next, he would.

It doesn’t make sense, but a fresh matchup like the former divisional champion Conor McGregor is also one that entices Makhachev more.

“To be honest with you, the McGregor fight looks more interesting in all respects,” Makhachev said. “But I don’t believe he’ll show up for his next fight. We’ve all seen that video, plus they canceled the press conference. I don’t think he’ll be able to make it to the fight.

“Even if he does, I think [Michael] Chandler will win. He’s more focused, he’s been training hard, he looks more hungry.”

McGregor will make his return to action for the first time in three years when he fights Chandler in UFC 303’s main event on June 29.

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TOP STORIES

Banter. Sean O’Malley addresses bad blood with Conor McGregor: ‘I think he realized what he said was stupid’

Questionable. Nassourdine Imavov on controversial Jared Cannonier stoppage at UFC Louisville: ‘It was the right decision’

Redemption. RIZIN 47 results: Kyoji Horiguchi avenges loss to Sergio Pettis, Kleber Koike Erbst grabs slick heel hook

Staged. Dana White reveals shocking Howie Mandel podcast walkout was planned

Communication. Raul Rosas Jr. reveals conversation with Ricky Turcios after choking him out at UFC Louisville

Backlash. ‘What a horrible stoppage’: Pros react to Nassourdine Imavov’s controversial finish in UFC Louisville main event

Shocker. Bruno Silva appeal denied, result in Chris Weidman fight remains technical decision loss

Huge. Kai Asakura announces move to UFC, vacates RIZIN bantamweight title

Wild. Manny Pacquiao to face RIZIN champion Chihiro Suzuki in boxing exhibition in July

$$$. Four performance of the night bonuses handed out at UFC Louisville

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LET’S WATCH

UFC Louisville Post Show.

MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin chats with Sean O’Malley.

Anderson Silva Open Workout.

UFC Vegas 93 Promo.

Free fights.

PFL Fight Week.

More Notorious training.

Champs chat.

Pereira’s UFC 302 shenanigans.

Seanbedded 6.

GSP at Bangtao.

Holloway’s Tokyo takeover.

Paddy in Scotland.

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MORNING MUSIC

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!

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SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN

Diego.

Ya gotta be kidding me.

King Diamond.

Ouff.

Well-timed.

Time to get crazy.

UFC bantamweights put on notice.

Back to Japan?

Concerning.

Another one.

Smooth.

Numbers.

Lol.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rena Kubota (14-5) vs. Kate “Lotus” Oyama (5-6); Super RIZIN 3, July 28

Allan Nascimento (20-6) vs. Jafel Filho (16-3); UFC Vegas 95, Aug. 10

Danny Barlow (8-0) vs. Uroš Medić (10-2); UFC Vegas 95, Aug. 10

Calvin Kattar (23-8) vs. Kyle Nelson (16-5-1); UFC Fight Night, Sept. 7

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I feel like Arman’s Oliveira win got completely forgotten about because of the card it was on. Move it to any other night and it’s much easier to remember that it was still a banger fight.

Thanks for reading!

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POLL POSITION

Last Week’s Results:

Friday: 57% of 578 total votes answered “Sean Strickland” when asked, “Who would you root for if the UFC rebooked Sean Strickland vs. Luke Rockhold?”

Thursday: 67% of 545 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Will Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson ever happen?”

Wednesday: 65% of 487 total votes answered “Michael Chandler” when asked, “Who is a worse matchup for Alexander Volkanovski?”

Tuesday: 92% of 444 total votes answered “Islam Makhachev” when asked, “Which was Dustin Poirier’s best performance among his three undisputed UFC title challenges?”

Monday: 56% of 455 total votes answered “Jon Jones” when asked, “Who is higher on your pound-for-pound list?”

Today’s exit poll:

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.