Arman Tsarukyan Punches Opponent at RAF 6, Touching Off Massive Mat Brawl
Arman Tsarukyan shoved and then struck Georgio Poullas at the conclusion of their Real American Freestyle match, an action that immediately escalated into a large-scale brawl at RAF 6. The incident matters because it involved a top-two UFC lightweight contender and threatens to complicate an already unsettled path toward a potential lightweight title shot.
RAF 6 mat erupts after final seconds
The melee began the moment the RAF 6 contest finished. With the final horn sounding, Tsarukyan shoved Poullas to the mat and followed with punches, and more than a dozen people flooded the wrestling mat as teammates and others converged on the scene. Officials and event staff moved in to separate the combatants, but the confrontation continued long enough for fights to spill into the crowd.
Arman Tsarukyan's shove and punches against Georgio Poullas
The match itself concluded with a 5-3 score in favor of Tsarukyan. Tension had been building during the bout: the two wrestlers exchanged slaps and other rough moves, and at one point Poullas landed what observers characterized as a head strike that clearly displeased Tsarukyan. That contact appeared to be the proximate cause for the shove at the end, which then produced the punches and the ensuing chaos.
Colby Covington escorts Poullas as crowd chants "U-S-A!"
Three-time UFC title challenger Colby Covington moved through the fracas to escort Georgio Poullas off the mat and into the backstage area as sections of the audience chanted "U-S-A!" Fights also broke out in the crowd during the disturbance, amplifying the disorder around RAF 6.
More than a dozen participants and lingering social media reaction
Images and video of the scene show both teams storming the mat and engaging in strikes as officials attempted to restore order. Uncrowned documented reports of fights in the crowd, and Tsarukyan later addressed the episode on X with the post, "F--- around and find out. " Former UFC welterweight title contender Belal Muhammad weighed in on X as well, writing, "Nah it was deserved the other guy was dirty, " referencing Poullas' head slaps that had drawn prior criticism.
Career context: last five UFC wins, RAF 5 and past incidents
The brawl sits against a busy competitive ledger for Tsarukyan. He is the No. 2-ranked contender in the UFC lightweight division and has won his last five UFC fights, a streak that includes a submission victory over Dan Hooker in November that earned a Performer of the Night bonus for a Round 2 finish. His earlier UFC résumé lists a decision win over Charles Oliveira and a knockout of Beneil Dariush in December 2023, leaving him 23-3 in his UFC career.
