Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan are just weeks away from their long-awaited sequel clash with a familiar foe of the former getting in some training work with the latter. Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan II headlines UFC 311 on Jan. 18 with Arman Tsarukyan not only looking to become the promotion’s lightweight champion but also avenge a prior defeat to the 155-pound titleholder.
To achieve this feat, Tsarukyan enlisted the services of the only man to have beaten Makhachev in professional mixed martial arts. Adriano Martins is the fighter who accomplished this and dispatched Islam Makhachev with a first-round knockout during their UFC 192 matchup in October 2015.
Martins was recently seen in what looked to be a post-training photo with a sweat-drenched Arman Tsarukyan in the lead-up to UFC 311. Several X users rushed to have their say on this intriguing training situation and an ample thread of tweets materialized thereafter.
@subhash5570 said:
“Secret weapon”
@MakrSupremacy stated:
“The disrespect”
@RRae96 quipped:
“Huge W for Arman for this”
Check out more fan comments below:
![[Screenshots courtesy: @Home_of_Fight on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/1db76-17340293045626-1920.jpg "https://sportsandworld.com/arman-tsarukyans-master-plan-training-with-islam-makhachevs-kryptonite-for-ufc-311-title-fight.html")
Check out the Arman Tsarukyan training photo alongside Adriano Martins below:
Arman Tsarukyan trained with Adriano Martins before his title fight against Islam Makhachev at #UFC311 🤝
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 12, 2024
Martins is the only MMA fighter to defeat Makhachev, winning their bout by K.O. in 2015.
(via adrianomartinsufc/IG) pic.twitter.com/rkcz0BmsSJ