Patience could soon pay dividends of the life-altering variety for Arman Tsarukyan.
The 28-year-old American Top Team contender will challenge Islam Makhachev for the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title when their rematch headlines UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Tsarukyan enters the cage on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. He last suited up on April 13, when he was awarded split scorecards against Charles Oliveira in their UFC 300 encounter. On the other side of the equation, Makhachev has emerged from the considerable shadow of longtime mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov and established himself as a true pound-for-pound ace.