Latest news with #OutCold
USA Today
03-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan names Khabib Nurmagomedov as biggest inspiration growing up
Arman Tsarukyan looked up to Khabib Nurmagomedov during his rise in MMA. Like Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC), Tsarukyan is known for his elite grappling. Nurmagomedov retired as an undefeated UFC lightweight champion and is widely considered as the most dominant fighter of all time. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is still in his pursuit of gold, and was scheduled to challenge Nurmagomedov's protege, Islam Makhachev, for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January before withdrawing the day before due to a back injury. "I've got a lot of favorite fighters that I watch their fights always to see how they move, how they wrestle,' Tsarukyan said on the "Out Cold" podcast. "But if we say who inspired me when I was young, it was Khabib because he is from Russia and I'm from Russia, as well. I live there. When I started training MMA, he was a goal for us. He wasn't the champ at that moment, but he was so famous." When former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria was campaigning to fight Makhachev for the lightweight title, Nurmagomedov said he saw Tsarukyan as a sterner test to prep for. Makhachev has since relinquished his 155-pound title to go after the welterweight title.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nate Diaz still eyes Conor McGregor trilogy: 'There ain't nobody else to fight'
Nate Diaz still wants to settle the score with Conor McGregor all these years later. Diaz (21-13 MMA, 16-11 UFC) and McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) fought twice before, with Diaz scoring an upset submission at UFC 196 in March 2016, and McGregor avenging his loss with a majority decision in their rematch at UFC 202. Both Diaz and McGregor have been inactive from the octagon. Diaz amicably parted ways with the UFC after submitting Tony Ferguson in September 2022 but is still interested in a potential return. Meanwhile, McGregor hasn't competed since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. "If I could fight anybody right now, I would fight – with all due respect to them, if Conor McGregor came back and did some f*cking sh*t, Conor McGregor," Diaz said on the "Out Cold" podcast. "There ain't nobody else to fight really right now. I would like for him to come back and just impress everybody first. Not that he needs to, but it would be great to see him back. Everybody's hating on him. I'd like to beat up somebody on top of the world, and I think he's got the capability to do that." The only other name Diaz sees as worthy in the UFC is lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), and the Stockton native is also interested in some boxing stars. "Then that little Ilia Topuria, he's doing a really good job," Diaz said. "He's a little small for me, but I think those two are probably the best fights. And then on the boxing side, obviously Canelo or Crawford. I ain't asking for nothing, but when I whoop someone's ass, I'm going to get them motherf*ckers, too, with all due respect. So, that's my plan." Diaz last competed a year ago in July 2024, defeating Jorge Masvidal by majority decision in a boxing.
