Earlier today, Arman Tsarukyan returned to the mat in the co-main event of RAF 06 opposite Georgio Poullas.
Heading into the fight, tensions were already high as Poullas and Tsarukyan exchanged verbal jabs in the lead-up, and this got worse on fight night.
During Round 1, both fighters started trading slaps, with multiple intense exchanges taking place instead of wrestling, and Tsarukyan appeared frustrated. His team was also heard yelling at Poullas for throwing punches during the match.
After 2 rounds, “Ahalkalakets” was up by 4-1. However, in Round 3, Poullas scored some points, and in the final seconds with Tsarukyan up 5-3, Poullas tried another takedown but failed and lost the match, after which the UFC fighter pushed him to the mat and, from top position, punched him in the face.
All hell broke loose after that, and both corners got into a fight before security rushed in to break up the brawl.
After the event, Tsarukyan warned Poullas via a post on X:
“Fu*k around and find out 🤷♂️”
Meanwhile, Poullas quipped:
“Fu*k you, Arman.”
The MMA Community reacts to Arman Tsarukyan punching Georgio Poullas at RAF 06
Arman Tsarukyan’s friend and UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev reacted to the brawl at RAF 06.
Check out his reaction below:
Check out Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s reactions, who had front row seats at the Mullett Arena.
Meanwhile, Belal Muhammad wrote on X:
“Arman don’t play, haha”
Anthony Pettis posted on X:
“RAF is 🔥🔥🔥 😂😂”
MMA Reporter Damon Martin posted:
“Arman Tsarukyan wins his match and then tackles Georgio Poullas to the ground and starts punching him, and a full-on melee breaks out”
Adam Martin posted:
“lol this is wild, and I honestly think you won’t see UFC fighters doing RAF anymore after this incident”
The MMA Guru added:
“Yeah Arman Tsarukyan we saw what you just did at RAF Wrestling after being taken down by that influencer no title shot for another 2 years kid”
Giorgi Kokiashvili posted:
“I don’t know, and I don’t understand why Arman Tsarukyan does such things…”
Ariel Helwani also reacted:
“Oh my”
Many fans, however, believed that Arman Tsarukyan did the right thing because his opponent kept slapping and throwing punches at him instead of wrestling. One such fan added:
“People are surprised Arman punched him after a match? He 1000% deserved it.”
Ali Abdelaziz also had similar sentiments.
“He deserve it 💪”
After punching a fan at UFC 300, headbutting Dan Hooker during the UFC Qatar weigh-ins, and now attacking Georgio Poullas, Arman Tsarukyan may have further hurt his chances of securing a title shot anytime soon, despite being the top contender.