Rizvan Kuniev is scheduled to face Tyrell Fortune in a three-round, 265-pound matchup at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 25.
The fight gives Kuniev another chance to move closer to the top of the UFC heavyweight division. He enters the bout as the No. 7 fighter in the official Meta UFC rankings and has made it clear that he wants the division's upper tier if he comes away with another win.
Kuniev's recent run has already given him some momentum. In 2024, he defeated Hugo Cunha by TKO in the UFC-affiliated Dana White's Contender Series, then lost to Curtis Blaydes by split decision in his UFC main roster debut last year. Earlier this year, Kuniev bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Jailton Almeida.
What Kuniev wants next
Kuniev said a victory over Fortune could move him up one or two spots and put him in position to call for a bigger name next. He specifically pointed to Josh Hokit as one option, while also naming several other heavyweights he would be willing to face.
Among the names Kuniev mentioned were the winner of Curtis Blaydes in, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Sergei Pavlovich and Alex Pereira. His point was simple: he is not looking to pick and choose. If the UFC offers him a step up, he said he is ready to take it.
That approach fits where he is in the division. Tom Aspinall is expected to face Ciryl Gane in a title unifier later this year, which means the heavyweight picture could shift quickly. For Kuniev, a win at UFC Abu Dhabi could help him stay in that conversation and earn a stronger opponent the next time out.
