“Makes Zero Sense” – Arman Tsarukyan vs Tony Ferguson RAF Wrestling Bout Sparks Mixed Reactions

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan continues his "generational run" as he takes on UFC legend Tony Ferguson at RAF 10.

“Makes Zero Sense” – Arman Tsarukyan vs Tony Ferguson RAF Wrestling Bout Sparks Mixed Reactions

Arman Tsarukyan vs Tony Ferguson set for RAF 10 (via MMA Fighting)

In Short
  • Arman Tsarukyan is set to face Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 on June 13, 2026, after a successful run in Real American Freestyle wrestling.
  • Ferguson, who retired from the UFC after an eight-fight losing streak, recently returned to combat sports with wins in Misfits Boxing.
  • Fans have mixed reactions to the matchup, questioning the competitiveness of Tsarukyan's opponents and Ferguson's current form.

Arman Tsarukyan has become one of the most popular UFC fighters despite competing only once since his 2024 win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. Since mid-2025, he has competed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling events to remain active outside MMA. However, he has found a base under Real American Freestyle. He is now set to face UFC legend Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 after joining RAF in January 2026.

Tsarukyan competed at Karate Combat 54 against Makkarship Zaynukov in May 2025 and also fought in BJJ under separate banners. He later returned to the UFC and defeated Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar. The win made him the expected next challenger for the title. However, the UFC did not grant him a title shot due to past behavioral issues and snubbed the Armenian star from an interim title fight at UFC 324.

Tsarukyan’s RAF run began with a tech fall victory over Lance Palmer at RAF 05 in January 2026. He followed it with back-to-back decision wins over Georgio Poullas at RAF 06 and RAF 07. He then defeated UFC legend Urijah Faber at RAF 08. It was recently announced that he will face Keelon “Mugzy” Jimison and is now set to take on Ferguson for RAF 10 at Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis University on June 13th 2026.

Ferguson, on the other hand, retired from the UFC after his loss to Michael Chiesa in August 2024. That defeat marked his eighth straight loss inside the promotion. His losing streak began after a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in 2020, marking the start of a difficult late-career run. Before that skid, his last UFC win came in 2019, where he earned a doctor stoppage victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 238.

However, ‘El Cucuy’ returned to combat sports after his loss to Chiesa under a new run under the Misfits Boxing banner. He defeated influencer boxer Salt Papi via stoppage in his return, showing a strong bounce-back performance. That win earned him the MFB Interim middleweight title. He later defeated Warren Spencer at Misfits Mania to capture the undisputed MFB middleweight title.

Arman Tsarukyan has made a strong impact on RAF wrestling since joining the promotion. He has already competed every month in 2026 through an active run across multiple events. The Armenian superstar is set to continue that schedule with RAF 09 and RAF 10 in the coming months. His matchup with Tony Ferguson is shaping up to be one of the more interesting cross-generational bouts in the promotion.

Fans react to Arman Tsarukyan taking on Tony Ferguson at RAF 10

Fans have been surprised by Arman Tsarukyan’s latest announcement regarding his rapid RAF schedule in 2026. Many have reacted to the fact that he has committed to two back-to-back fights at RAF 09 and RAF 10 within a short timeframe. His decision to stay consistently engaged in wrestling-focused bouts across consecutive months has been widely noted in combat sports discussions.

Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan (via MMA Fighting)

Fans have also expressed concern for Tony Ferguson ahead of the matchup, given his long period of struggles before recently returning to the win column. His recent wins outside the promotion have been seen as positive, but many still question his current form. At the same time, Tsarukyan’s run has been described as peak form with consistent victories throughout 2026.

Fans have debated Tsarukyan’s RAF run, with some suggesting he is facing fighters well past their prime rather than active UFC-level opposition. The discussion has been fueled by matchups involving veteran names like Urijah Faber and Tony Ferguson. However, RAF owner Chad Bronstein has clarified that active UFC fighters cannot be matched against each other due to contractual restrictions.

Also Read: