“I expected to win by knockout,” Tsarukyan said in a post-fight interview. “I said I didn’t want to win by decision. I wanted to knock him out and get a title fight.”
“Now I’m a top-five fighter in the division, number three or number two. Hopefully my next fight will be for the title. If not, and I have to win another fight, I’ll do it, and I’ll still be your champion – trust me!”
Arman Tsarukyan had a disappointing UFC debut in April 2019, losing to Islam Makhachev by unanimous decision after three competitive rounds, and the Russian is confident he can knock out his compatriot, who is the best fighter in the world, in the rematch.
“Islam is a fighter of a different level. We fought four years ago, I was twenty-two years old, now I’m twenty-seven – I’ve gotten better and our next fight will be different. I’m going to knock him out, that’s it.”
Recall that the fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Benil Dariush, which headlined the UFC on ESPN 52 event in Austin, ended at the 1:04 mark of the first round with a knockout victory for the Russian.