Arman Tsarukyan breaks his silence after RAF 6 brawl with Georgio Poullas: ‘This is not my fault’
MMA Fighting
March 2, 2026
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Arman Tsarukyan has defended his actions after a post-match brawl with Georgio Poullas at RAF 6, insisting he was only retaliating for repeated punches thrown by Poullas during their wrestling match. The incident occurred immediately after Tsarukyan secured victory in the match, which had already seen both competitors engage in rough behavior, including slaps and shoves that prompted warnings from the referee. Tsarukyan claims Poullas targeted him with strikes meant to incite a reaction, and he only acted once the fight was over to ensure his own safety.
In an interview with the Ariel Helwani Show, Tsarukyan explained that Poullas’s aggressive tactics during the match were unorthodox for a wrestler, as natural wrestlers typically avoid such behavior. He described how Poullas repeatedly punched him and even attempted eye pokes and finger-breaking moves. Tsarukyan said he restrained himself to focus on winning the match but ultimately felt compelled to respond after securing the victory, especially since he believed the referee was not taking sufficient action to address Poullas’s violations.
Tsarukyan, a top-ranked lightweight in the UFC, also reflected on his recent challenges, including a fight week injury that derailed a potential title shot and a controversial headbutt incident with Dan Hooker. Despite these setbacks, he remains confident that the UFC will not penalize him for defending himself
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Originally published on MMA Fighting on 3/2/2026