Arman Tsarukyan was removed from a commercial flight along with his team due to violations of airline rules, including using a phone during takeoff and reclining a tray table. The incident occurred as he was traveling to his next grappling tournament. Despite the disruption, Tsarukyan secured a private jet to reach Philadelphia. His match against Juraja Faber at RAF 08 remains scheduled and will take place as planned. The bout is set for the day after tomorrow.
Arman Tsarukyan's travel plans hit an unexpected snag ahead of his upcoming grappling appearance, but the Armenian-Russian lightweight contender confirmed he will still compete at RAF 08 as scheduled.
Tsarukyan and his team were removed from a commercial flight after a series of rule violations, including using a phone during takeoff and improperly handling a tray table. Rather than let the disruption derail the trip, Tsarukyan arranged a private jet to reach Philadelphia in time, and his match against Juraja Faber at RAF 08 remains on as planned, set to take place the day after tomorrow.
Tsarukyan, 29, currently sits at number one in the UFC lightweight rankings and carries a professional MMA record of 23-3-0. Fighting out of American Top Team, the five-foot-seven Russian-based fighter brings a 72-inch reach and a well-rounded offensive game into any competition. He averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also posing a consistent wrestling threat at 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect the complete skillset he brings to the grappling stage as well.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight in the UFC, making any competitive appearance a high-profile event
- His presence at RAF 08 against Faber adds significant marquee value to the grappling card
- The travel disruption tested his team's logistics but did not ultimately affect his availability for the bout
