Hamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan engaged in a light sparring session ahead of their respective fights at PFL RAF 10 in St. Louis. Tsarukyan posted footage of the exchange, joking that Chimaev was lucky he was cutting weight. The card features Tsarukyan vs. Tony Ferguson, Chimaev vs. Dillon Danis, and Aaron Pico vs. Lance Palmer.
Hamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan were caught sharing a light sparring session on June 13 ahead of their respective bouts at PFL RAF 10 in St. Louis, with Tsarukyan posting footage of the exchange on social media. The Armenian-Russian fighter added a pointed joke to the clip, suggesting Chimaev should consider himself fortunate that a weight cut was keeping things friendly.
Tsarukyan enters the card ranked first in the lightweight division, carrying a 23-3 record into his matchup against Tony Ferguson. The 29-year-old out of American Top Team has built a reputation as one of the most complete 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.
Ferguson, 42, brings a 26-11 record and a 76-inch reach into the fight, representing one of the most decorated names in lightweight history under the banner of Knuckleheadz MMA. He lands nearly five significant strikes per minute and has averaged 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career, making him a constant threat from multiple positions.
The card also features Aaron Pico against Lance Palmer. Pico, a 29-year-old out of Jackson-Wink MMA, holds a 14-5 record and has shown elite wrestling credentials, averaging an extraordinary 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox fighter will look to impose that grappling-heavy game on the experienced Palmer.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's lightweight ranking means his PFL performance carries significant weight as he looks to cement his place among the division's elite
- Ferguson's reputation and submission threat make him a genuine danger even late in his career
- Pico's elite takedown rate sets up a compelling stylistic clash with Palmer
- The Chimaev-Tsarukyan sparring clip adds an unusual pre-event storyline to an already loaded card
