Former UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will compete at RAF 09 on May 31st, facing opponent Kelon Jimison. This marks Tsarukyan's return to competition outside the UFC organization. The announcement confirms both the date and the opponent for this upcoming matchup. No further details about the fight location or other bouts on the card were provided in the original post.
Former UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is set to return to action at RAF 09 on May 31, where he will meet Kelon Jimison in a matchup outside the UFC organization.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a professional record of 23-3-0 and holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also adding consistent grappling pressure with 3.26 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
No verified data for Kelon Jimison was available in the AgentMMA database at the time of this report.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the number-one ranked lightweight, making any competitive appearance significant for the division's landscape.
- His move outside the UFC raises questions about his organizational status heading into this bout.
- No fight location or additional card details have been confirmed, leaving context around the event limited for now.
