Hamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan got in some light wrestling ahead of their respective fights at RAF13 in St. Louis. Tsarukyan shared footage of the session, joking that Chimaev was lucky he was cutting weight. The card features Tsarukyan vs. Tony Ferguson and Chimaev vs. Dillon Danis in the main bouts.
Hamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan found time for a light wrestling session ahead of their respective bouts at RAF13 in St. Louis, with Tsarukyan posting footage of the training exchange on social media. The Armenian-Russian fighter added a playful jab alongside the clip, joking that Chimaev should consider himself fortunate his training partner was in the middle of a weight cut.
Tsarukyan enters the card ranked number one in the lightweight division and carrying a 23-3 record. The 29-year-old Russian based out of American Top Team has built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. He faces Tony Ferguson, a stern test for anyone on any given night.
Ferguson, nicknamed El Cucuy, holds a 26-11 record and remains a dangerous opponent at 42 years old. The American, who trains out of Knuckleheadz MMA, stands five-foot-eleven with a 76-inch reach and has long been known for his relentless pace and creative attack, averaging 4.91 significant strikes per minute across his career.
Chimaev, meanwhile, is booked to meet Dillon Danis on the same card, giving the two training partners a shared stage in St. Louis.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's number-one lightweight ranking means a dominant performance against Ferguson would strengthen his title case
- Ferguson's veteran guile and 76-inch reach present a tricky stylistic puzzle despite his recent record
- Chimaev and Tsarukyan sharing mat time before the event adds an interesting training camp wrinkle to both fights
