UFC Star Arman Tsarukyan Gets ‘Olympics’ Co-Sign from Gold Medalist Kurt Angle

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle believes that Arman Tsarukyan can compete in the Olympics after his performance at RAF 07.

UFC Star Arman Tsarukyan Gets ‘Olympics’ Co-Sign from Gold Medalist Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle gives Olympic level praise to Arman Tsarukyan (via Instagram, CNN)

In Short
  • Arman Tsarukyan has gained recognition from Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle for his wrestling skills.
  • Tsarukyan recently secured a decisive victory over Georgio Poullas, showcasing his technical dominance.
  • He is set to serve as a backup for the upcoming title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.

Arman Tsarukyan is one of the most impressive fighters in the UFC today, especially in the lightweight division. Due to behavioral issues with the promotion’s top brass, the Armenian contender has been rebuilding his public image by competing in wrestling tournaments. His recent win over Georgio Poullas at RAF 07 caught the attention of WWE Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle.

Angle is one of the most accomplished amateur wrestlers in history, winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling despite a serious neck injury. He later transitioned into WWE, becoming a multiple-time world champion and earning a Hall of Fame induction. He has since remained a widely respected and influential voice when evaluating elite grappling talent across combat sports.

Tsarukyan has been competing under the RAF banner, debuting at RAF 05 with a win over former PFL champion Lance Palmer. He recently rematched Poullas, known for rarely being taken down, and won 9-3 after scoring a suplex in the final minute. The victory highlighted his technical dominance and drew analysis from Angle, who believed that the Armenian superstar could compete at the Olympic level.

Arman Tsarukyan is a real deal; he can literally go into Olympic wrestling right now and do really well.

Kurt Angle via The Schmo

The Poullas bout served as a rematch of their heated first meeting at RAF 06 in February 2026. Their initial encounter ended in a brawl when Tsarukyan pushed Poullas to the ground and struck him after the match concluded. That incident marked the beginning of a fierce rivalry between the two wrestlers. The tension was fully settled in the rematch, with the UFC lightweight contender securing a decisive victory.

Tsarukyan has continued competing in wrestling outside the UFC, most recently submitting UFC flyweight Muhammed Mokaev under the Hype FC banner. He also drew with Sharaputdin Magomedov at Hype FC Armenia. The lightweight contender previously defeated former UFC champion Benson Henderson and Mehdi Baydulaev under the ACBJJ banner. These results highlight his dominance across multiple platforms.

Angle has maintained a connection to the UFC since his time as a WWE superstar and was even offered a chance to join the promotion in 2006, though contractual obligations prevented it. Receiving such high praise from an Olympic gold medalist underscores how far Arman Tsarukyan has come in the sport. His performances across multiple wrestling promotions and UFC competitions highlight his growth and skill.

Arman Tsarukyan is ready to serve as the backup for the UFC’s biggest event of the year

Arman Tsarukyan has faced scrutiny from UFC CEO Dana White for three major incidents in recent years. He was first suspended after punching a fan during his UFC 300 walkout, drawing widespread attention. He then withdrew from his UFC 311 title shot on short notice, frustrating the promotion. Most recently, he headbutted Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar, an action that could have jeopardized the bout from taking place.

Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan (via MMA News)

All of those incidents contributed to Tsarukyan being passed over for the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324, despite being the division’s #1 contender at the time, in favor of Justin Gaethje. Gaethje won the interim belt, setting up a unification bout with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom Fights 250. Tsarukyan has since revealed he will serve as a potential backup for the major title fight.

So (Topuria) has a fight coming up and now he’s saying, ‘yeah, if the UFC tell me, I will fight Arman’ but he has a fight coming up, I’m a backup for that fight, I’m gonna be ready if something happens and I’m gonna stay active. Maybe I’m gonna do RAF next month or maybe in May so we’ll see when Colby Covington is ready, when he’s gonna be done with his drinking beer and laying down on the beach.

Arman Tsarukyan via RAF 07 press conference

Arman Tsarukyan also hinted at a potential matchup against Colby Covington, who had an impressive performance over Dillon Danis at RAF 07. The two even exchanged shots during the post-fight press conference, signaling rising tension between them. This interaction could set the stage for a future clash in MMA or grappling competition. Analysts will be watching closely to see if the bout materializes.

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