Alex Perez anxious for next fight: 'I don't get paid to sit on the couch'

Alex Perez wants to fight immediately following his quick submission victory over Jordan Espinosa at UFC Raleigh.

"I’m hoping to get in there soon. I’m going to stay ready," Perez told theScore. "I see there's a lot of 125-pound fighters fighting on the next couple of cards. Ranked or not, I’m ready to step in. I get paid to fight, I don’t get paid to sit on the couch."

Perez (22-5) pushed his UFC record to 5-1 with his victory on Saturday. If a short-notice opportunity doesn't come to fruition, the California native knows who he wants to face next.

The Team Oyama product attempted to call out Askar Askarov during his post-fight speech on Saturday, but he didn't say the Russian flyweight's name.

"Honestly I just didn’t want to butcher it," the 27-year-old said. "I felt like it would be more disrespectful for me to pronounce it. That’s why I did that, it wasn’t like I didn’t know his name. No, he’s f------ tough, man. He beat Tim Elliott, a former title challenger. He went to a draw with Brandon Moreno. He’s undefeated so it’s a good fight. I want to test myself."

After only competing once last year, Perez said he'll fight more consistently in 2020.

The Contender Series winner gave an honest assessment of his placement in the 125-pound division, and he isn't concerning himself with what's happening at the top.

"I’m glad that Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo are getting the vacant title shot," he said. "It’s great the division is moving along. I honestly don’t really care who wins or don’t really care what happens at the top of the division because I’m not there."

The 12th-ranked fighter said he's willing to beat everyone in front of him. Then when he gets his title shot, no one "will b---- or complain."