“We are not close friends,” Tsarukyan stated in an interview with LowKick MMA. “We know each other, we trained together several times, but if they tell me that if I win over Fiziev, I will get a title chance, definitely, I will immediately say, ‘Yes, I will fight’. But if it’s just a regular fight, not a Candidates fight, there’s no point in fighting him because we know each other.”
Also, the Russian lightweight confirmed that he would like to fight his next fight on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
“Yes, I want to fight in October in Abu Dhabi, ideally with Islam Makhachev. The second best opponent is Michael Chandler. This is a good fight for me. I’m ready. I am open to fight any opponent from the top five of the division.”
According to available information, the next opponent of Rafael Fiziev will be the Pole Mateusz Gamrot, who inflicted the last defeat on Tsarukyan in the UFC.