Arman Tsarukyan will compete against Tony Ferguson at a wrestling league event organized by RAF (Russian Action Fight) on June 13th. This represents a crossover appearance for Tsarukyan, who is primarily known for his UFC career. The post announces this as a grappling or wrestling match rather than an MMA bout. No further details about the format or rules are provided in the announcement. The event is scheduled for mid-June and appears to be promoted by the Russian Action Fight organization.
Arman Tsarukyan is stepping outside the Octagon for a crossover grappling appearance, set to face Tony Ferguson at a Russian Action Fight (RAF) wrestling league event on June 13.
Tsarukyan, 29, is currently ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division and carries a professional MMA record of 23-3. The Russian-born fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, is an accomplished wrestler and brings elite takedown volume to any grappling context, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. His striking accuracy of 50 percent and output of 3.85 significant strikes per minute underline his well-rounded skill set, though it is his wrestling that figures to be the centerpiece of a bout under RAF rules.
Ferguson, 42, is a former interim UFC lightweight champion competing under the nickname "El Cucuy." The American holds a career record of 26-11 and has long been regarded as one of the most unorthodox and submission-active fighters in the sport, averaging 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his MMA career. He owns a 76-inch reach and has historically generated high striking volume at 4.91 significant strikes landed per minute. Ferguson is affiliated with Knuckleheadz MMA.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked UFC lightweight contender, making any public competition an event of interest for divisional observers
- The RAF format is described as grappling or wrestling rather than a standard MMA bout, offering an unusual stylistic showcase for both men
- No specific rules or format details have been confirmed, leaving the competitive structure of the match unclear ahead of the June 13 date
