Arman Tsarukyan Involved in Post-Match Altercation at RAF 6 Wrestling Event

Tsarukyan Involved in Post-Match Brawl at RAF 6 Wrestling Event

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan was involved in a post-match altercation at the Real American Freestyle (RAF) 6 wrestling event on Saturday, following his match against Georgio Poullas. The incident, which involved Tsarukyan punching Poullas, quickly escalated into a brawl on the mat involving multiple individuals.

Post-Match Altercation Details

Following his victory over Georgio Poullas at RAF 6, Arman Tsarukyan reportedly pushed Poullas to the mat and delivered punches as the match concluded. This action immediately led to a brawl involving members of both teams, event security, and officials.

Three-time UFC title challenger Colby Covington later escorted Poullas backstage. Reports also indicated that separate altercations occurred within the crowd, suggesting a tense atmosphere surrounding the event.

Match Context and Justification

The match between Tsarukyan and Poullas was characterized by rough activity and intense exchanges, with tensions notably escalating towards its conclusion.

Tsarukyan stated his actions were a direct retaliation for Poullas's behavior during the match. He claimed Poullas's conduct included punches, attempted eye pokes, and attempts to break his fingers. Tsarukyan noted that the referee issued warnings and deducted points from Poullas for these actions but did not disqualify him.

"I chose to restrain myself during the match to secure my win, deciding to retaliate only after the official whistle confirmed my victory."

Organizational Responses and UFC Standing

Arman Tsarukyan, a 29-year-old lightweight contender currently on a five-fight win streak, is awaiting a potential UFC lightweight title fight.

Tsarukyan stated he does not anticipate the UFC will penalize him for the incident, suggesting the organization might perceive his actions as defending a UFC fighter's honor. He has not yet communicated with the UFC regarding the incident but expects to learn more at UFC 326. He also mentioned leaving the RAF arena after the altercation without speaking to officials and does not expect repercussions from RAF.

Tsarukyan also expressed no interest in a wrestling rematch with Poullas, stating a strong preference for a street fight or a mixed martial arts bout.

UFC CEO Dana White addressed Tsarukyan’s conduct at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference.

"I don’t love it," White stated regarding the RAF 6 incident, adding, "But that night, that was somebody else’s problem, not mine."

White indicated he is "not thrilled with Arman right now" for "a lot of different reasons," some of which are not publicly known. White affirmed that the UFC will continue to allow its fighters to compete in RAF events, attributing the recent issues solely to Tsarukyan. He further noted that these incidents complicate the UFC's trust in Tsarukyan for a future title fight.

History of Incidents

This altercation marks one of several incidents involving Arman Tsarukyan:

• November (prior year): He reportedly headbutted Dan Hooker at a weigh-in, resulting in a broken nose for Hooker. This incident drew commentary from Dana White and reportedly influenced a subsequent title opportunity.
• 2024: Tsarukyan punched a fan before his UFC 300 fight.
• 2025 (prior year): A fight week injury affected a scheduled bout against then-champion Islam Makhachev, preventing a title shot.

Tsarukyan was participating in his second Real American Freestyle event, having previously defeated Lance Palmer at RAF 5 in January.