Israel Adesanya Lays Out Blueprint for Arman Tsarukyan to Defeat Justin Gaethje
Israel Adesanya knows exactly what Arman Tsarukyan has to do if he wants any chance of dethroning the UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has laid out a clear roadmap for top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan to overcome the violence of former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Speaking on the Precision with Mighty & Izzy podcast, Adesanya explained that Tsarukyan’s path to victory relies on turning back the clock and recreating a legendary performance.
"If Arman wants to win against Gaethje, he’s gotta wrestle like Khabib. Do pretty much what Khabib did," Adesanya stated when analyzing the potential matchup.
Adesanya's advice points directly to former lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, who famously neutralized Gaethje’s explosive power with relentless forward pressure and elite chain-wrestling before securing a second-round triangle choke at UFC 254. In Adesanya’s eyes, Tsarukyan cannot afford to get drawn into a striking brawl against one of the division’s most lethal power punchers.
"I see technical chaos from Justin. Arman’s just gonna grapple," Adesanya added. "He has to do what he did to Ruffy, but even better."
Replicating the Grappling Masterclass
Tsarukyan, who holds an impressive 24-3 professional record with over three takedowns averaged per 15 minutes in the Octagon, certainly has the wrestling credentials to execute that exact blueprint. His recent dominant performance against rising striker Mauricio Ruffy showcased his ability to drag dangerous strikers to the canvas and heavy-handedly enforce his will from top position.
However, Gaethje’s NCAA Division I wrestling foundation and devastating leg kicks make him a nightmare to trap against the fence. While Gaethje thrives in high-octane exchanges where he can trade heavy blows, Tsarukyan's best asset remains his suffocating top control and relentless mat returns.
If Tsarukyan heeds Adesanya's warning and refrains from exchanging wild combinations in the pocket, he has the physical tools to make Gaethje wrestle for every inch. By blending constant takedown threats with unrelenting pace, Tsarukyan can shut down Gaethje's offense and firmly solidify his claim for lightweight gold.
