UFC Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan Attributes RAF 6 Post-Match Altercation to Opponent’s In-Bout Provocations.

Arman Tsarukyan, a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division, has publicly disavowed responsibility for the brawl that erupted moments after his wrestling match against Georgio Poullas concluded at RAF 6 last Saturday night. The incident, which saw Tsarukyan throw a punch at Poullas immediately following his victory, quickly escalated into a chaotic scene involving team members, security, and event officials.

The contentious atmosphere between Tsarukyan and Poullas reportedly began during their wrestling contest, with both competitors allegedly engaging in rough tactics. Accounts from the event indicate instances of slaps to the head and a shove that prompted the referee to issue warnings to both participants, signaling a breakdown in sportsmanship. The underlying animosity reached its peak when Tsarukyan secured his win, subsequently tackling Poullas to the ground and delivering a punch. This action triggered an immediate influx of individuals from both camps onto the mats, necessitating intervention from security personnel and RAF officials to prevent further escalation of the volatile situation.

Speaking on Monday, Tsarukyan broke his silence regarding the altercation during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, a widely recognized platform for combat sports news and analysis. Tsarukyan asserted that his actions were not unprovoked, claiming they were a direct retaliation to what he described as a series of deliberate fouls committed by Poullas throughout their match.

"I mean, his game plan was just fight during the fight, make hype, and he wanted to do that because the actual [wrestlers], like natural wrestlers, never do that," Tsarukyan stated during the interview. He elaborated on his perception of Poullas’s tactics, describing them as disrespectful to the sport of wrestling. "Because it’s disrespectful. The referee can cut you out, but this referee, he was just taking points from him. He punched two times, one time he did, they said, ‘if you do one more time, we’ll just cut you from wrestling,’ and the referee still kept waiting for him and he’s just knocking me out." While specific details on the exact number of points deducted or the severity of the warnings were not immediately available, Tsarukyan’s account suggests a pattern of behavior from Poullas that he deemed beyond the scope of legitimate wrestling.

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Within the sport of wrestling, common hand-fighting and even light slaps to the head are not entirely uncommon as athletes vie for superior position. However, Tsarukyan contended that Poullas’s conduct transcended these accepted norms, crossing into what he perceived as intentional aggression. He detailed numerous instances of alleged fouls, including attempts to poke his eyes and break his fingers. "Maybe 20 times, he’s trying to poke eyes, break my fingers," Tsarukyan claimed, emphasizing that he repeatedly brought these infractions to the referee’s attention, suggesting a lack of decisive action from the official.

Despite the alleged provocations, Tsarukyan explained that he consciously chose to maintain his composure and focus on securing the victory within the wrestling rules. He articulated a strategic decision to endure Poullas’s tactics until the match concluded, only then opting to "make Poullas pay." "I thought he was going to wrestle, but when he started punching, I said, ‘OK, this guy wants to fight and cancel the fight. Do like dirty wrestling.’ I was waiting on wrestling [to be] done and that moment, I wanted to punch him right away. I won the wrestling and I heard the whistle and I said, ‘OK, now it’s time. Because I got the victory.’" This account suggests a calculated delay in his retaliation, prioritizing the legitimate win before addressing the perceived injustices.

While the incident unfolded at RAF 6, Tsarukyan’s primary athletic career is in the UFC, where he is currently ranked among the top lightweights globally. His professional mixed martial arts record stands at 22 wins and 3 losses, a testament to his prowess in the octagon. He is currently ranked #4 in the UFC lightweight division, a highly competitive weight class dominated by champions like Islam Makhachev and other elite contenders such as Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. Tsarukyan’s aspirations for a UFC title shot have been a consistent narrative in his career. A past fight week injury in 2025 (as stated by Tsarukyan, likely a misstatement for a past year) reportedly cost him a previous opportunity for championship gold. More recently, an incident involving a headbutt delivered to Dan Hooker at the weigh-ins prior to their November 2023 showdown also drew scrutiny. Tsarukyan went on to defeat Hooker by TKO in the first round, a significant victory, but the weigh-in altercation reportedly contributed to him being overlooked for another immediate title opportunity.

Given his standing in the UFC, the RAF 6 incident has inevitably drawn attention to Tsarukyan’s professional conduct. However, he expressed confidence that the UFC would not impose sanctions for his actions. "This is not my fault," Tsarukyan asserted. "Everybody is on my side now. I was waiting like six minutes. He was like punching me for six minutes. What do you want me to wait for me? Bro, if someone punches you – everybody is different, what are you going to do if somebody punches you 20 times? You’re not going to let him do that." He further speculated that the UFC might even view his actions favorably, framing it as a display of a UFC fighter defending himself and the organization’s prestige. "It’s the opposite. They are going to be happy that a UFC fighter don’t let somebody to beat up a UFC fighter. UFC fighter goes to freestyle wrestling and beat the freestyle wrestler and to show what’s the level of UFC."

Tsarukyan acknowledged that he had not yet received direct communication from the UFC regarding the brawl since Saturday night. However, he anticipated gaining more clarity on the situation when he attends UFC 326 this coming Saturday. UFC 326 is a major pay-per-view event featuring significant matchups, often providing opportunities for fighters to engage with UFC executives and matchmakers. "We’ll see," Tsarukyan commented. "I’m going there on Friday and watch the fights on Saturday."

Looking ahead, Tsarukyan conveyed no interest in a rematch with Poullas, particularly not under wrestling rules. His post-fight comments indicated a preference for a different kind of confrontation if a second encounter were to occur. "No, if they want to do a rematch, we’ve just got to fight on the street," Tsarukyan stated, adding a provocative challenge. "Even better than a rematch. Because I don’t want to fight in freestyle wrestling. If he wants to fight, we can fight anywhere. He can come to Newport [Beach], we can fight in the sand on the beach. He would never do that because I need one second to knock him out. No interest [in a rematch] at all."

Tsarukyan dismissed Poullas’s wrestling capabilities, suggesting his opponent was more interested in creating a spectacle than competing fairly. "He made his name. He has hype now and now he’s thinking he’s a superstar. He did his job. He’s not a good wrestler. He wanted to fight with me but it was stupid." To underscore his point, Tsarukyan mentioned that former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, a known training partner and friend, had shown him an amateur fight of Poullas where he was reportedly knocked out in the first round. "If he wants to fight, we can fight anywhere but not on the wrestling mats."

Following the immediate aftermath of the brawl, security successfully brought the situation under control, and Tsarukyan departed the arena without engaging in any formal discussions with RAF officials. Despite the lack of direct communication, Tsarukyan expressed confidence that RAF holds no ill will towards him. He maintained that his relationship with the promotion remains positive. "I think they’re cool with me," Tsarukyan said. "They treat me very well and they’re nice to me. I feel like RAF is very interested in me. I feel like it’s good to have this relationship with RAF." This suggests that Tsarukyan perceives his actions as justified and believes they will not jeopardize his standing with the wrestling organization. The potential ramifications for Poullas or for future RAF events remain to be seen.

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