“A good knockout,” said the Russian, speaking to the press at a boxing night in Dubai. “After this fight, he’s already made a loud statement, he beat the top, and he’s getting closer to the title race.”
Makhachev also responded to Tsarukyan’s promise to knock him out in the first round.
“He already had a chance to knock me out, but he didn’t succeed. He couldn’t win a single round. Let him train some more, let him grow up.”
At the same time, the UFC champion doesn’t rule out that another high-profile win will give Tsarukyan a title shot.
“If he gets one more fight confidently and the management gives him a title shot, why not?”
As for his next fight, Islam Makhachev confirmed that he could return to the octagon on March 9 at UFC 299, but would prefer to fight Justin Gaethje rather than Charles Oliveira.
“I think it could be in March. Most likely at a numbered tournament. I’ve said it before – I don’t have that much interest in doing rematches. You have to add new names to the record. There’s Gaethje, who has already earned a title fight – it would be more interesting to fight him”
Separately, the Russian noted that he is not giving up on the idea of winning the UFC welterweight championship belt.
“The second belt is a dream fight, something that motivates me at the moment. The perfect ending to my career is to win two belts, defend both belts. That’s the ultimate for me at the moment.”