Arman Vs Georgio brawl at RAF 6 erupts after buzzer, prompting leadership review
Arman Vs Georgio boiled over at Real American Freestyle 6 when No. 2-ranked UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan rushed Georgio Poullas after the final buzzer and landed punches on the mat, setting off a widescale brawl. The episode matters now because it not only marred the RAF 6 card in Tempe, Ariz., but has put Tsarukyan’s status and the promotion’s family-friendly positioning under immediate scrutiny.
Arman Vs Georgio clash in Tempe, Ariz.
The co-main event ended in chaos when, as the final buzzer sounded, an aggravated Arman Tsarukyan shoved Georgio Poullas to the mat and struck him while they were on the ground. The match itself had been chippy, with the two exchanging slaps and other rough activity as the final seconds ticked away. The single provocation — a rush after time expired — escalated into a melee that drew more than a dozen people onto the wrestling mat.
Colby Covington escorts Georgio Poullas backstage
The confrontation spilled beyond the mat, with crowd members also engaging in scuffles; a portion of the audience had been chanting "USA" in support of Poullas. The chaos concluded when three-time UFC title challenger Colby Covington stepped in and escorted Poullas backstage. Video circulating from the scene appears to show Tsarukyan connecting cleanly on Poullas’ chin before the wider brawl erupted.
Eric Bischoff and Chad Bronstein promise review
RAF chief media officer Eric Bischoff said he was disappointed by the length and scale of the melee, noting that some social commentary likened the scene to professional wrestling. Bischoff emphasized that he would not have let such a fracas persist and praised the RAF staff for producing strong moments on the card, including a surprise Real American Legends championship presentation. "What happened tonight, yeah, it's going to create controversy and the right kind of controversy managed properly can create cash, but it can also create backlash, too, " Bischoff said, adding that RAF would review the footage and make a decision.
RAF CEO Chad Bronstein echoed the need for action, stressing the promotion’s goal of being a family-friendly combat sport. Bronstein noted RAF is only on six events and said that while incidents can occur, the organization must figure out how to prevent them from repeating.
Event fallout overshadows Henry Cejudo vs Urijah Faber main event
RAF 6 had been headlined by a legends matchup in which recently retired Henry Cejudo made quick work of UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. Following that bout, an announcement was made that Cejudo would next face Merab Dvalishvili on April 18. Those developments were largely overshadowed by the post-match melee involving Tsarukyan and Poullas, which Bischoff said compromised the kinds of moments he had hoped would define the show.
Tsarukyan's history of outside-the-ring incidents
The brawl at RAF 6 is the latest episode in a pattern for Tsarukyan. He previously punched a fan before UFC 300 in 2024 and is accused of breaking Dan Hooker’s nose with a head-butt at weigh-ins last November. RAF 6 was Tsarukyan’s second appearance for Real American Freestyle after he dominated Lance Palmer at RAF 5 in January. He remains a top contender in the UFC title picture, currently in a holding pattern while lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje are slated to fight at a future date; many observers believed Tsarukyan had earned a title shot after defeating Hooker, but the recent incidents complicate that trajectory.
What makes this notable is the convergence of Tsarukyan’s elevated UFC standing and recurring off-ring incidents: a No. 2-ranked contender drawing sustained controversy forces both his promoters and major organizations to weigh commercial upside against reputational and disciplinary risk. RAF’s stated next steps — reviewing tape and deciding on consequences — are the immediate official actions that follow directly from the brawl, and they will influence both Tsarukyan’s immediate opportunities with RAF and perceptions of his candidacy in the UFC title picture.
