“Since our fight, Islam has improved a lot and become much more experienced,” Tsarukyan said in an interview with Red Corner MMA. “Now he has a title, he is a champion, and I need to win a couple of fights and I hope in a year and a half I will get a title chance”
“I think Volkanovski will give him a tough fight because Volkanovski can stand up, wrestle, he’s a tough fighter, he has great cardio and a lot of experience. For Islam, this is a big challenge, but I think he will be able to win.”
The title superfight, in which Islam Makhachev will defend the UFC lightweight championship belt for the first time, will headline the UFC 284 tournament in Perth on February 12, and Alex Volkanovski, who owns the featherweight title, will actually put the status of the leader of the UFC P4P rating on the line.
Arman Tsarukyan will return to the octagon on December 17 at UFC Fight Night 216 in Las Vegas against Damir Ismagulov.