Arman Tsarukyan and Street Wrestler Georgio Poullas Agree to Rematch Despite Violent Ending After First Meeting

Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas are set to rematch under custom rules at Hype Brazil after their controversial RAF 06 brawl.

Arman Tsarukyan and Street Wrestler Georgio Poullas Agree to Rematch Despite Violent Ending After First Meeting

Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas rematch set (via Instagram)

In Short
  • Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas will have a rematch on March 11 in Brazil, following a controversial first match.
  • The initial bout ended with Tsarukyan winning 5–3 but was marred by aggressive exchanges and a post-match altercation.
  • The rematch will be submission-only with a 10-minute time limit, aiming to resolve ongoing disputes between the fighters.

Few fighters on the current UFC roster draw as much attention as Arman Tsarukyan. Since being snubbed from the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324, he has competed in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu events worldwide. Tsarukyan has maintained a strong online presence by collaborating with popular streamers. He now readies a rematch with Georgio Poullas in Brazil, 11 days after their match at RAF 06.

At RAF 06, Tsarukyan faced Poullas in a highly competitive wrestling match. Tsarukyan won by a narrow 5–3 points decision, with the bout marked by stoppages due to aggressive exchanges. Poullas frequently pushed the limits of the rules, prompting interventions throughout the match. The contest ended in controversy when a post-match altercation escalated into a chaotic scene involving both athletes.

After the bout, Poullas posted a video from the ambulance, claiming he was deliberately attacked by Tsarukyan and his team while his only defense was his father and brothers. Poullas stated he would negotiate a rematch as soon as possible to settle the dispute. That rematch is now officially set for Hype Brazil on March 11, and the bout will follow a submission-only format with a 10-minute time limit.

This will not be Tsarukyan’s first fight under the Hype FC banner. He previously faced UFC middleweight contender Sharaputdin Magomedov at Hype FC Armenia on December 30. The bout had a similar submission-only stipulation but was a single six-minute round, ending in a draw if no submission occurred. Tsarukyan impressed by slamming the UFC middleweight in the ring during the contest.

The brawl between Tsarukyan an Poullas was shared globally and quickly became the talk of the combat sports community. The incident also caught the attention of UFC middleweight champion and Tsarukyan’s teammate Khamzat Chimaev, who was reportedly ready to fly in to defend him. However, the Armenian contender later revealed that he managed to calm the Chechen champion down before any escalation.

While footage from the RAF 06 main event has been released, the combat sports community remains divided over who was at fault and whether Arman Tsarukyan was justified in punching Georgio Poullas. Poullas has publicly debated the result, claiming the Armenian star never properly took him down during the match. The unresolved disputes and controversial ending have directly set the stage for their rematch.

Arman Tsarukyans sends a message to the UFC after the RAF 06 brawl

Arman Tsarukyan has had a strained relationship with UFC management since headbutting a fan during his UFC 300 walkout, resulting in a nine-month suspension and a $25,000 fine. He later pulled out last minute from his UFC 311 title shot against Islam Makhachev. Tensions rose again when Tsarukyan headbutted Dan Hooker during their UFC Qatar face-off which may have risked the main event.

Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan (via Bloody Elbow)

All of these disciplinary issues have put Tsarukyan at odds with UFC CEO Dana White, who began questioning his dependability. This doubt contributed to Tsarukyan being snubbed from multiple title opportunities despite his skill. After his brawl with Georgio Poullas at RAF 06, the Armenian star stated the UFC should not be overly concerned with his behavior and should adopt a more positive outlook.

They should be happy that a UFC fighter didn’t let anyone beat him. UFC fighter number one went into freestyle wrestling, beat the freestyle wrestler, and showed the level of the UFC.

Arman Tsarukyan via The Ariel Helwani Show

Arman Tsarukyan has vowed not to let disciplinary issues hinder his career or allow lapses in discipline to define him. He now awaits another opportunity at a UFC title shot, determined to prove his value inside the Octagon. While he has gone down to the number #2 ranked lightweight position, his resume, highlighted by victories over top contenders, remains undeniable.

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