Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev engaged in a light wrestling session ahead of their respective fights at RAF 13 in St. Louis. Tsarukyan posted the footage with the caption "He got lucky I'm cutting weight." Tsarukyan faces Tony Ferguson, Chimaev takes on Dillon Danis, and Aaron Pico meets Lance Palmer on the card.
Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan took a break from their respective fight preparations to share the mat together, with footage of a light wrestling session between the two surfacing ahead of RAF 13 in St. Louis. Tsarukyan posted the clip himself, adding the caption "He got lucky I'm cutting weight" — a playful jab that underscored the competitive edge between two of combat sports' most intense competitors.
Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," enters RAF 13 as the number-one ranked middleweight in the world and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1 record and brings some of the most well-rounded pressure in the sport, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate while averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. He is set to face Dillon Danis on the card.
Tony Ferguson, the 42-year-old American veteran known as "El Cucuy," awaits Tsarukyan at RAF 13. Training out of Knuckleheadz MMA, Ferguson holds a 26-11 record and remains one of the more active offensive fighters in the sport, averaging 4.91 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that has caused problems for opponents throughout his career. He also averages 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes, adding a constant threat on the ground.
Also featured on the RAF 13 card is a matchup between Aaron Pico and Lance Palmer. Pico, the 29-year-old Jackson-Wink MMA product, holds a 14-5 record and is a relentless force on the mat, averaging a remarkable 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. The five-foot-eight Orthodox fighter lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute and brings elite wrestling credentials into every bout.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's number-one middleweight ranking means his performance at RAF 13 carries major divisional weight
- Ferguson's experience against elite opposition makes him a credible test for any top lightweight
- The Pico-Palmer pairing adds another high-stakes grappling-centric contest to an already talent-heavy card
