Tsarukyan named the fighters he is ready to fight for the interim title

UFC lightweight No. 1 Arman Tsarukyan has confirmed that his fight against champion Islam Makhachev won't take place until early next year at the earliest.

Arman noted that he was willing to accept a bout with any other fighter if an interim title was on the line.

"I knew that. The information was already brought to me that my fight won't be this year. It will be early next year approximately. I don't care when that fight is, even if it's a year from now. I will work and go to this fight.

Of course, I'm ready to fight another fighter. I'm not interested in fighting Islam. I'm principled to become a champion. Anyone in the top 5 can fight for the interim title. Hooker, Chandler, Oliveira, Gaethje, Porier - all of them can fight for the interim belt," said Tsarukyan.