Arman Tsarukyan is one of the UFC's most popular lightweight fighters today, with a strong public profile. The Armenian contender frequently makes headlines for his active social media presence and outspoken persona, which he also showcases and appears regularly on Kick streams.
Tsarukyan recently attended the MVP MMA card, where he nearly engaged in a brawl with undercard fighter Namo Fazil.
Fazil is a Kurdish mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division with a professional MMA record of 9-1. He trains at Tiger Muay Thai, a well-known camp that has produced multiple international fighters across major promotions. The Kurdistan native has competed on regional circuits, including UAE Warriors, ONE Friday Fights, and European and Middle Eastern MMA events, throughout his career.
Fazil competed on the final prelim against Jake Babian and secured a second-round anaconda choke victory. After his win, Fazil called out co-main event fighters Mike Perry and Nate Diaz, as well as Arman Tsarukyan, during his post-fight interview. However, the Armenian lightweight confronted him from the crowd after cornering David Mgoyan and was restrained by security as he attempted to jump the stands.
Tsarukyan appeared visibly heated after the exchange and decided to leave with his team to confront Namo Fazil behind the scenes. The situation escalated further when both sides came face to face in a more private area of the venue. Tensions reportedly rose quickly between the two camps during the confrontation. MVP founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul stepped in to prevent further escalation.
Tsarukyan has also been an active presence on Nina Drama's streams, where he has often showcased his humorous personality and outspoken nature. During a livestream, controversial remarks sparked online backlash and discussion. Kurdish fans began calling out Tsarukyan online following the incident. Their beef ignited when Fazil later addressed the Armenian lightweight during the pre-fight press conference.
Tsarukyan has been involved in more than one physical altercation in recent months across different combat sports settings. One incident occurred after his RAF wrestling match against Georgio Poullas, during which tensions rose after repeated slaps by the former collegiate wrestler. After the final bell, Tsarukyan threw Poullas to the ground and landed a flurry of punches before officials intervened.
Arman Tsarukyan's recent incidents across multiple events have added scrutiny to his rising profile. These situations could affect his title aspirations if disciplinary concerns continue. Despite this, he has returned to the UFC's favor after past tensions with UFC CEO Dana White, who has named him as a backup for the title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, keeping him in the title picture.
Arman Tsarukyan first faced Georgio Poullas at RAF 06 in Tempe, Arizona, in a freestyle wrestling bout, winning a close decision. The match ended in controversy after the final bell when a post-match altercation broke out before security intervened. The rivalry continued at RAF 07 in Tampa, Florida, where the two met again in a rematch, with the Armenian star winning the second encounter as well.
Tsarukyan and Poullas exchanged heavy insults and trash talk in the buildup to their RAF 06 and RAF 07 matches. The tension between them included a $10,000 bet linked to their rivalry. After the feud, Poullas settled the amount owed to Tsarukyan, who donated the money to charity. The two were recently seen meeting and training together, with Tsarukyan advising the wrestling influencer during their session.
Arman Tsarukyan is now set to compete twice more under the RAF competition after already appearing four times in 2026. He is scheduled to face Mugzy at RAF 09 in his next bout under the promotion. Tsarukyan is also set to compete against UFC veteran Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 later in the schedule, marking another major addition to his busy 2026 campaign.
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