Arman Tsarukyan punches opponent, ignites massive brawl at RAF 6
arman tsarukyan’s appearance at RAF 6 ended in a chaotic melee after his Real American Freestyle wrestling match with Georgio Poullas, a scene that leaves questions about conduct and title implications for the UFC lightweight contender. The confrontation escalated immediately at the final bell and spread from the mat into the crowd.
Shove and punches as match ends: Tsarukyan defeats Poullas 5-3
At the close of the RAF 6 bout, Arman Tsarukyan shoved Georgio Poullas and then threw punches, touching off the melee. The official result from the match was a 5-3 win for Tsarukyan. The shove and ensuing punches happened just after time expired, and footage showed the altercation erupting in the final moments.
Both teams and more than a dozen people rush the mat; officials try to intervene
Both teams for Tsarukyan and Poullas stormed the wrestling mat, and more than a dozen people flooded the area as the brawl unfolded. Officials and others tried to step in to stop the confrontation while fights also started breaking out in the crowd. The crowd began chanting "U-S-A!" during the chaos, and the melee only settled after several people were pulled away.
Colby Covington escorts Poullas backstage amid chants and scuffles
Three-time UFC title challenger Colby Covington was seen escorting Georgio Poullas off the mat and into the backstage area as the crowd chanted in favor of Poullas. As the dust settled, Poullas was taken away from the scene while other members of both camps remained entangled in confrontations on the mat and in nearby seating.
What sparked the fight: slaps, a head hit and past complaints about Poullas
The match had already been chippy, with the two wrestlers exchanging slaps and otherwise rough activity. One immediate trigger appears to have been Poullas hitting Tsarukyan in the head during the match; Tsarukyan had been visibly displeased about that contact throughout. Poullas had been called out in the past for head slapping in wrestling matches, and ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad wrote in a separate post, "Nah it was deserved the other guy was dirty. "
Tsarukyan's reaction and public response
After the event, Tsarukyan posted a terse message — "F--- around and find out" — in reference to what transpired between him and Poullas. The exchange and the brawl produced immediate online discussion and highlighted ongoing tensions around both athletes' recent behavior.
Recent form, past incidents and title implications
Tsarukyan, who is ranked No. 2 in the UFC lightweight division and is identified as being of Georgia, has won his last five UFC fights and carries a 23-3 record in his UFC career. His streak includes a Round 2 submission of Dan Hooker, a victory that took place on Nov. 22, 2025 at the ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar and earned him a Performer of the Night bonus. That submission followed a decision victory over Charles Oliveira and a knockout of Beneil Dariush in December 2023.
Outside of the RAF 6 incident, Tsarukyan has been involved in other controversial moments: he punched a fan before his fight at UFC 300 in 2024 and allegedly broke Dan Hooker's nose with a head-butt at weigh-ins last November. He was competing at RAF 6 in his second Real American Freestyle event after dominating Lance Palmer at RAF 5 in January.
Those factors complicate Tsarukyan's standing as he waits for the lightweight picture to clear; he could be in line for a shot at the current lightweight belt holder Ilia Topuria, but the division is also awaiting a Topuria–Justin Gaethje matchup between the champion and the interim titleholder. Many believed Tsarukyan deserved a title shot after defeating Hooker, and Saturday's antics are likely to influence perceptions within the promotion.
