Arman Tsarukyan will compete against Tony Ferguson in a wrestling match at the RAF (wrestling league) event on June 13th. This marks an unusual crossover appearance for both UFC fighters in a wrestling-specific competition. The bout will take place outside of mixed martial arts rules, focusing purely on wrestling. No additional details about the ruleset or weight class were provided in the announcement. This represents a departure from traditional MMA competition for both athletes. The match-up has generated interest from fans of both fighters.
Arman Tsarukyan and Tony Ferguson are set to meet outside the Octagon on June 13th, competing against each other in a wrestling match at a RAF league event — a rare crossover appearance for two fighters better known for their work inside the cage.
Tsarukyan, ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division, carries a 23-3-0 professional record and is considered one of the most dangerous grapplers in the 155-pound class. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, averages an impressive 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, making him a natural fit for a wrestling-specific format. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance and also posts a striking accuracy of 50 percent.
Ferguson, the 42-year-old American known as "El Cucuy," brings a 26-11-0 record into the crossover bout. The Knuckleheadz MMA product stands five-foot-eleven with a 76-inch reach and has long been known for his unorthodox, high-volume style in MMA, averaging 4.91 significant strikes landed per minute across his career. While his MMA takedown output sits at 0.39 per 15 minutes, Ferguson has historically demonstrated creative grappling exchanges in mixed martial arts competition.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked UFC lightweight contender, so any public appearance carries divisional interest
- The purely wrestling-based ruleset removes striking, placing the matchup entirely on the mat
- Ferguson, at 42, is well past his UFC prime, making this an intriguing late-career crossover moment
- No ruleset or weight class details have been confirmed, leaving key specifics of the competition open
