Arman Tsarukyan will compete at RAF09 on May 31, facing Kilon Jimison as his opponent. This announcement confirms Tsarukyan's next scheduled bout outside of the UFC. The fight date and opponent have been officially set for this Russian MMA promotion event. Details about the venue or other fighters on the card were not provided in the announcement.
Arman Tsarukyan is set to step outside the UFC and compete at RAF09 on May 31, where he will face Kilon Jimison in a confirmed bout for the Russian MMA promotion.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a professional record of 23-3-0 and is currently ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division. The Armenian-born Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and fights from an orthodox stance. His offensive output is among the best in the lightweight division, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also threatening on the ground with 3.26 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
No verified database entry was available for Kilon Jimison at the time of this report.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the UFC's top-ranked lightweight, making any competitive outing notable regardless of promotion
- The bout takes place under the Russian MMA banner RAF09, marking a cross-promotional appearance for one of the division's premier contenders
- No venue details or additional card information were included in the official announcement
