Arman Tsarukyan punches opponent, sparks massive brawl after RAF 6 match
Arman Tsarukyan shoved and then threw punches at Georgio Poullas at the end of their Real American Freestyle match Saturday at RAF 6, touching off a massive brawl that flooded the mat and spilled into the crowd.
Shove after time expired led to punches and full‑scale melee
The match ended with Tsarukyan shoving Poullas as the final seconds ran out; that shove escalated immediately into punches and a chaotic fight on the mat. More than a dozen people rushed the wrestling surface, with members of both teams storming the area and officials working to pull people apart. Fights also broke out in the crowd as spectators reacted.
Colby Covington escorts Poullas as crowd chants U‑S‑A!
As the dust settled, three‑time UFC title challenger Colby Covington escorted Georgio Poullas off the mat and into the backstage area while the crowd chanted "U‑S‑A!" The match concluded with Tsarukyan winning 5‑3 over Poullas.
Chippy match: head slaps, a hit to the head, and a heated exchange
The contest had been physical throughout, with both men exchanging slaps and rough contact. Poullas hit Tsarukyan in the head during the match, an action that left Tsarukyan openly displeased and which may have precipitated the post‑match confrontation. After the event Tsarukyan wrote on X, "F--- around and find out. " Ex‑UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad responded on X, "Nah it was deserved the other guy was dirty. "
Arman Tsarukyan's recent form and past incidents
Tsarukyan is ranked second in the UFC lightweight division and entered RAF 6 while remaining active in Real American Freestyle. He was competing in his second event for the promotion after dominating Lance Palmer at RAF 5 in January. In MMA he has won his last five fights; that stretch includes a submission win over Dan Hooker in November 2025 — a Round 2 finish that earned him a Performer of the Night bonus — a decision win over Charles Oliveira, and a knockout of Beneil Dariush in December 2023. His UFC record stands at 23‑3.
Saturday's brawl adds to a string of off‑ring incidents: Tsarukyan punched a fan before his fight at UFC 300 in 2024 and was accused of head‑butting Dan Hooker at weigh‑ins last November, an allegation that Hooker said left his nose broken.
