Arman Tsarukyan will compete against Tony Ferguson at the RAF 13 wrestling league event scheduled for June 13. This match represents a departure from traditional MMA competition, as it will be contested under wrestling rules. The announcement was made via RAF promotional materials. While both are established MMA fighters, this will be a pure wrestling match rather than an MMA bout. Details about weight class or specific ruleset have not been disclosed in the announcement. This crossover event brings together two fighters from different generations of MMA competition.
Arman Tsarukyan and Tony Ferguson are set to meet outside the cage, with the two MMA fighters scheduled to compete against each other under wrestling rules at the RAF 13 event on June 13.
The bout will not be an MMA contest. Instead, it is being held as part of the RAF wrestling league, marking an unusual crossover appearance for both fighters. Specific details regarding weight class and the exact ruleset have not been included in the promotional announcement.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters as the number-one ranked lightweight contender with a record of 23-3-0. Fighting out of American Top Team, the Russian standout has built his MMA reputation in large part on his grappling-heavy approach, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 50 percent. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, his wrestling credentials make him a natural fit for this kind of crossover competition.
Ferguson, fighting out of Knuckleheadz MMA, is a 42-year-old veteran from the United States carrying a career record of 26-11-0. Known by the nickname El Cucuy, the six-foot-one orthodox fighter has a 76-inch reach and has long been recognized for his unorthodox submission grappling, averaging 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his MMA career. His takedown output in MMA has been modest, but his ground-based creativity has been a hallmark of his fighting style throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, giving this non-MMA appearance added visibility for a fighter at the peak of his career
- Ferguson is a former interim UFC lightweight champion whose grappling background gives this matchup genuine competitive intrigue on the mat
- The event represents a growing trend of MMA athletes competing in alternative combat sports formats outside their primary discipline
- No weight class or ruleset details have been confirmed, leaving key variables about the competitive structure unresolved
