Undefeated UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov hasn't fought since April 2014, but he isn't looking for an easy tune-up fight when he makes his return to the Octagon.

According to Ariel Helwani on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight, Nurmagomedov (22-0) is looking toward the winner of Jan. 17's UFC Fight Night 81 clash between Anthony Pettis (18-3) and Eddie Alvarez (26-4) for his next outing. Nurmagomedov told Helwani he's not interested in talking trash or ruffling feathers – he just believes Pettis and Alvarez are the best guys ahead of him in the rankings, and a win over either of them would propel him toward the UFC lightweight title.

He's also open to a matchup with Nate Diaz, a fighter who recently defeated Michael Johnson in a three-round affair at UFC on Fox 17 in December.

Diaz and Nurmagomedov scuffled at a World Series of Fighting (WSOF) event in August, leading to a lifetime WSOF ban for the brothers from Stockton and some back-and-forth verbal sparring between the two lightweights. Shortly after, however, Nurmagomedov claimed he wasn't interested in fighting Diaz because it would be an "easy fight" for him, but now the 27-year-old Dagestan product is changing his tune, saying he has "unfinished business" with the junior Diaz brother.

There is no timetable set for Nurmagomedov's UFC return, but the Dagestani fighter said he's making the necessary changes in camp to stay healthy and to best prepare for his upcoming fight.