“He Was So Bad”- Arman Tsarukyan Says Max Holloway Is Done, Calls For Retirement After Devastating Loss
Last month, in the main event of UFC 326, Max Holloway fought Charles Oliveira in a much-anticipated BMF title fight. The hype around it was massive, but the bout was underwhelming for fans who expected more action.
Oliveira chose to wrestle throughout the fight, controlling Holloway and denying him any meaningful offensive openings consistently. After five rounds, judges scored the bout clearly for the Brazilian as Holloway appeared helpless and unable to respond effectively.
Following the bout, rumors emerged about Holloway facing Conor McGregor next, possibly during International Fight Week in a blockbuster matchup. However, Arman Tsarukyan dismissed talks, stating that the Hawaiian fighter is finished and no longer competitive at the highest level.
“Max is done already. He’s just going to make money and then retire. He’s not that Max anymore. He was so bad. Last fight he looked so bad, it’s crazy. I was surprised. How you cannot wrestle? Zero wrestling. You’ve been in this sport for 20 years and you cannot even defend a takedown from Charles Olivera. Charles Olivera has no takedowns. He’s good at jiu-jitsu, but wrestling?” said Arman Tsarukyan via The Ariel Helwani Show.
Tsarukyan also mentioned that the lightweight division is being held up by old veterans such as Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. The fighter wants to change that soon after potentially becoming the champion by beating Ilia Topuria.
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Arman Tsarukyan talks about becoming a olympic wrestler
Arman Tsarukyan has been trying his best to get a title shot since missing his first opportunity last year. The fighter has been on a huge media run, which has certainly boosted his popularity among fight fans.
The Armenian is extremely active when it comes to wrestling matches, which has helped him earn a reputation. Recently, former Olympic wrestler Kurt Angle also mentioned that Tsarukyan does have the potential to win a olympic medal.
When asked about this, the fighter shared his honest opinion while prioritising his UFC championship aspirations. “If I was a UFC champion, I could think about that. But… but right now, no. There is no money… it’s just for the country. Yeah, you can bring the medal. Guys training 25 years only freestyle wrestling… it’s going to be difficult to compete with them,” Arman Tsarukyan continued.
Arman Tsarukyan believes he is next in line for the title and expects to face the winner of Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. According to the contender, the champion has better chances of defeating Gaethje and will likely move on to fight Tsarukyan next.
READ MORE: Ilia Topuria Opens Up About Childhood Bullying and the Mindset That Made Him a Champion
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