Arman Tsarukyan will compete against Tony Ferguson at the RAF 10 professional freestyle wrestling event on June 13. According to the report, Tsarukyan has already purchased the RAF promotion, though this detail requires confirmation. The post speculates that young fighters may now prefer RAF over UFC, as the promotion could offer real popularity and better financial opportunities. This suggests a potential shift in the Russian MMA landscape, though the claims about RAF's appeal remain speculative at this stage.
Reports out of Russia suggest Arman Tsarukyan is set to compete against Tony Ferguson at the RAF 10 professional freestyle wrestling event on June 13, with unconfirmed claims also circulating that the lightweight contender has purchased the RAF promotion outright.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters this reported bout as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC, carrying an impressive 23-3-0 record. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game to the mat. He lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more dangerous grapplers in his division.
Ferguson, nicknamed "El Cucuy," is a 42-year-old American veteran competing out of Knuckleheadz MMA. He holds a 26-11-0 record and remains an active striker, landing 4.91 significant strikes per minute across his career. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 76-inch reach, Ferguson has long been known for his submission threat, averaging 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career.
The claim that Tsarukyan has acquired ownership of the RAF promotion has not been officially confirmed and should be treated as a rumour at this stage. Reports further speculate that the promotion could draw young Russian fighters away from the UFC by offering greater visibility and improved financial terms, though those assertions remain unverified.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked UFC lightweight, making any competitive appearance outside the promotion a significant talking point
- The unconfirmed ownership claim, if true, would represent an unusual dual role of fighter and promoter
- A style matchup between Tsarukyan's high-volume wrestling and Ferguson's active striking and submission attempts presents an intriguing contrast
- The broader suggestion of a shift in the Russian MMA landscape adds context beyond the individual bout
