Competing this past Saturday at RAF 7, the top UFC lightweight contender delivered an impressive and controlled performance in his much-anticipated wrestling rematch with Giorgio Poullas. Tsarukyan won the match by a 9-3 decision after their first encounter in February ended in a chaotic, controversial brawl.
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Speaking Monday on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Tsarukyan said Saturday’s rematch didn’t quite unfold the way he expected but reinforced the gap between himself and the opposition.
“It was so clean,” Tsarukyan told Uncrowned. “He didn’t even punch me once, and I thought it was going to be kind of the same, a little bit cleaner, but he [was going to] play same dirty game, but he was just wrestling like he’s supposed to wrestle. And I was surprised that, even when he was losing, he didn’t want to cancel [the match by getting disqualified].
“I can fight anywhere, anytime. I’m a fighter. It’s a thing that I’m living for, you know? I wake up, I go to the gym, I fight — and this regular guy, he wrestles and go to the beach and do his influencer thing. But I fight every single day, it’s my thing. And [if] somebody wants to come and punch me in the wrestling, of course I’m going to punch him back. But if you want to see me in rematch, keep it clean. Let’s do the wrestling and show everybody who is the best wrestler, not just the best fighter.”
RAF 7 marked yet another example of Tsarukyan, 29, staying active as opportunities present themselves, but his focus remains firmly on UFC, where a lightweight title shot continues to feel within reach.
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Following conversations with UFC brass, Tsarukyan revealed a very specific short-term plan: Be ready for anything, including the possibility of stepping in at the UFC White House event against either man in the headlining title fight, 155-pound champion Ilia Topuria or interim champion Justin Gaethje.
“I’m going to train to be in shape if something happens in main event in White House, I’ll be [the] backup [fighter],” Tsarukyan said. “So I’ll [be ready to] fight there. And then they’ll announce my next fight after Ilia vs. Gaethje.”
Positioning himself as a potential backup for a high-profile card — while eyeing the fallout from Topuria vs. Gaethje — underscores where Tsarukyan sees himself in the division’s hierarchy. He’s the No. 1-ranked contender, awaiting his opportunity after his withdrawal from a title bout against the then-champion, Islam Makhachev, in January 2025.
Ultimately, Tsarukyan teased that UFC informed him he has options, despite his obvious direction.
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“There is a couple different things that can happen,” he said. “I cannot tell, but should be good.”
In the meantime, Tsarukyan isn’t opposed to staying busy elsewhere. One possibility already being explored is a quick turnaround grappling match against Dillon Danis, potentially as soon as next week under the Hype banner. Tsarukyan competed for Hype earlier this month in Brazil, choking out former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev in a headlining grappling match.
“It’s not confirmed yet. We’re going back and forth, negotiating,” Tsarukyan said of the Danis matchup. “For me, it doesn’t matter. I can wake up and go to wrestle Dillon Danis. He’s easy money for me. He’s going to get tired in three minutes.”
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Whether that matchup materializes remains unknown, especially with competing interest from RAF, which has quickly become a recurring platform for Tsarukyan to showcase his wrestling credentials.
So far, Tsarukyan has gone undefeated in his relentless bid for side quests outside the UFC. He mentioned fellow RAF 7 winner Colby Covington as a potential next match for him in the upstart wrestling promotion.
“They do [such a] good show,” Tsarukyan said of RAF. “The fireworks, this, that, music, and they do a very good job and promoting, bringing in stars. There is legit wrestlers. Imagine Olympic champion wrestling with Olympic champion. It’s like one of the best cards ever.Advertisement
“[At RAF 7, there] was like six, seven, maybe eight medalists from Olympic Games. Then main event and co-main event are MMA fighters. But we can bring a lot of eyes. It’s good to promote this sport. And some of the wrestlers [are questioning] why Olympic champions are wrestling in the main card, not main event. They’ve got to understand we do this for them, too. Because of our names, it’s going to be bigger as well.”
Between potential grappling matches, continued appearances with RAF and a looming return to the UFC’s lightweight title picture, Tsarukyan is keeping every door open.