“I hope they will organize a fight with Islam for me,” Tsarukyan said in a post-fight interview. “I always visualize the best case scenario and I feel I can knock him out in the first round.”
Earlier, Tsarukyan expressed confidence that he should beat Brazilian Charles Oliveira and American Justin Gaethje in the title race and challenge his compatriot next.
UFC head Dana White agreed after the UFC on ESPN 52 event that a rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan makes sense, suggesting that this fight could take place next year in Abu Dhabi.
Arman Tsarukyan made his UFC debut in April 2019, taking a fight with Islam Makhachev on short notice, and lost to his compatriot by unanimous decision over three competitive rounds.
Islam Makhachev last entered the octagon in October of this year, at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, knocking out Australian Alexander Volkanovski in the first round and topping the rankings of the organization’s best fighters regardless of weight class.