Arman Tsarukyan to fight Tony Ferguson at RAF 10, serving as UFC backup

Arman Tsarukyan will step into the cage at RAF 10 against Tony Ferguson while simultaneously serving as the backup fighter for the UFC White House event, the Russian lightweight confirmed ahead of the dual commitment.

Tsarukyan, ranked first in the UFC lightweight division at just 29 years old, carries a record of 23-3-0 into the bout. The Russia-born American Top Team product stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and elite grappling, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 50 percent. With the UFC event still two weeks out, Tsarukyan expects the scheduled card to proceed without issue, giving him the window to compete at RAF 10 while remaining on standby.

Ferguson, the 42-year-old American known as "El Cucuy," enters the matchup at 26-11-0 and trains out of Knuckleheadz MMA. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 76-inch reach, Ferguson has long been one of the most active and unorthodox fighters in the lightweight division, landing 4.91 significant strikes per minute throughout his career. He also averages 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting the dangerous ground game that defined his lengthy run near the top of the 155-pound class.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan is the No. 1-ranked lightweight, meaning any performance at RAF 10 carries divisional weight and visibility.
• Ferguson, at 42, remains a credible stylistic test given his volume striking and submission threat on the ground.
• The dual-commitment arrangement puts Tsarukyan in a unique position, balancing an active fight appearance against UFC backup responsibilities with a tight two-week turnaround.
• A strong showing by either fighter could reshape the lightweight conversation heading into the UFC White House card.