Khamzat Chimaev and Dillon Dinis, as well as Arman Tsarukyan and Tony Ferguson, faced off in their respective staredowns ahead of their upcoming fights.
Two high-profile staredowns took place on June 12, 2026, as Khamzat Chimaev squared off with Dillon Dinis and Arman Tsarukyan came face to face with Tony Ferguson ahead of their respective bouts.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters his fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates carries a 15-1-0 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is one of the division's most complete threats, landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate while averaging an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that has made him nearly impossible to handle for opponents across weight classes.
Tsarukyan, the 29-year-old Russian fighting out of American Top Team, is the number-one ranked lightweight with a 23-3-0 record. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and backs that up with 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded and dangerous challenger at 155 pounds.
His opponent, Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson, is the 42-year-old American veteran with a 26-11-0 record fighting out of Knuckleheadz MMA. At six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Ferguson has long been known for his unorthodox offense, averaging 4.91 significant strikes per minute and 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a style that keeps opponents guessing throughout a fight.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's bout has significant middleweight title implications, with "Borz" already holding the division's top ranking
- A Tsarukyan win would likely put the lightweight number-one contender in firm position for a title shot
- Ferguson's submission threat and high-volume striking present a stylistically unpredictable challenge for Tsarukyan
