Tsarukyan vs. Poullas Grappling Rematch Canceled; Venue Dispute Halts Hype Brazil Bout

The highly anticipated submission-only grappling rematch between Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas, originally slated for March 11 at Hype Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, has been officially canceled. RAF officials confirmed the cancellation to MMA Fighting, following the match's prior announcement by Hype Fighting on social media.

Georgio Poullas withdrew from the event, citing his firm belief that any subsequent encounter should occur under the banner of Real American Freestyle (RAF), the organization that hosted their initial contentious match.

Poullas withdrew from the event, citing his belief that any subsequent match should take place within the Real American Freestyle (RAF) organization.

Roots of the Rivalry

The significant anticipation for a rematch stemmed from a dramatic incident following Tsarukyan's victory over Poullas at RAF 06. This event took place on February 28, 2026, in Tempe, Arizona.

Tsarukyan defeated Poullas via points with a score of 6-4. Immediately after the conclusion of the match, Tsarukyan struck Poullas, which quickly escalated into a physical altercation involving personnel from both sides.

Divergent Paths for a Future Bout

Following the recent cancellation, an immediate rematch between the two grapplers remains on hold, with both parties indicating different directions for a potential future encounter.

RAF co-founders Chad Bronstein and Izzy Martinez have publicly stated their position that any future rematch between Tsarukyan and Poullas should occur within the RAF organization, which they believe is the appropriate platform for such an event. RAF has also identified its upcoming events, RAF 07 in Tampa, Florida, and RAF 08 in Philadelphia, as potential venues for a future bout.

Conversely, Poullas has indicated he is attempting to arrange a discussion with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White. Poullas's objective is to explore the possibility of transforming the rivalry into a fight within the UFC Octagon.

"We’re currently pending on trying to get a phone call [with Dana] to see if we can make that happen."