Arman Tsarukyan will compete at RAF 09 on May 31 against Keion Jimison. The announcement confirms Tsarukyan's next bout after his recent UFC activities. This represents a return to regional competition for the lightweight contender. No additional details about the event location or fight card were provided in the post. The matchup adds another confirmed bout to the RAF 09 lineup scheduled for late May.
Arman Tsarukyan is set to return to regional competition when he faces Keion Jimison at RAF 09 on May 31, an announcement that marks the lightweight contender's next scheduled appearance inside the cage.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the bout as one of the sport's most recognizable names outside the UFC's top ranks. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a professional record of 23-3-0 and currently holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox southpaw is a well-rounded threat, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate while also posing a consistent grappling danger at 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. The return to a regional promotion represents a notable change of scenery for a fighter operating at that level of the lightweight pecking order.
No verified data for Keion Jimison was available in the AgentMMA database at the time of this report.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight, making any competitive outing significant for divisional positioning and momentum.
- A regional stage appearance is an unusual setting for a fighter of his ranking, lending added intrigue to the matchup.
- No event location or broader card details were confirmed alongside the announcement, leaving the full context of RAF 09 partially unclear.
