UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has broken his silence following the controversial brawl that erupted after his wrestling match victory over Georgio Poullas at RAF 6, adamantly defending his actions while announcing plans for a rematch under different circumstances.

The incident occurred on February 28 at the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, where Tsarukyan defeated Poullas 5-3 in what was supposed to be a straightforward wrestling contest. However, the match devolved into chaos when Tsarukyan shoved Poullas to the mat and threw a punch immediately after the final whistle, sparking a melee that required intervention from both corners, officials, and security personnel.

Tsarukyan Claims Self-Defense

Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Tsarukyan offered his first detailed account of the events, placing the blame squarely on his opponent's conduct during the match.

"This is not my fault," Tsarukyan stated emphatically. "Everybody is on my side now. I was waiting like six minutes. He was like punching me for six minutes. What do you want me to wait for me? Bro, if someone punches you — everybody is different, what are you going to do if somebody punches you 20 times? You're not going to let him do that."

The Armenian fighter described a pattern of what he considered dirty tactics from Poullas throughout their wrestling match, including eye pokes, finger manipulation, and repeated punches and slaps. Video footage from the contest appears to support Tsarukyan's claims, showing Poullas landing strikes on his opponent while prompting protests from Tsarukyan's corner.

"Maybe 20 times, he's trying to poke eyes, break my fingers," Tsarukyan explained. "I thought he was going to wrestle, but when he started punching, I said, 'Okay, this guy wants to fight, and cancel the fight, do dirty wrestling. I was waiting on wrestling [to be] done, and [at] that moment, I wanted to punch him right away."

Strategic Restraint Until Victory

Despite his frustration with Poullas's tactics, Tsarukyan revealed that he deliberately held back his retaliation until after securing the victory, demonstrating what he viewed as remarkable self-control under the circumstances.

"I won the wrestling and I heard the whistle, and I said, 'Okay, now it's time' because I got the victory," he said, explaining his decision to wait until the match was officially over before responding to what he perceived as repeated provocations.

The UFC fighter criticized the match officials for failing to adequately address Poullas's behavior during the contest, claiming the referee should have been more decisive in stopping the illegal tactics rather than simply deducting points.

Rematch Confirmed Under New Rules

In a surprising development, both fighters have agreed to face each other again, but this time under the Hype FC banner in Rio on March 11. The rematch will be contested as a submission-only grappling match, potentially providing a more controlled environment for their rivalry to play out.

However, Tsarukyan has expressed reservations about returning to pure wrestling competition with Poullas, suggesting he would prefer a different type of confrontation entirely.

"No. If they want to do a rematch, we just gotta fight on the street, even better than a rematch, because I don't want to fight in freestyle wrestling. If he wants to fight, we can fight anywhere… I need one second to knock him out," Tsarukyan told Helwani, indicating his preference for a more combat-oriented encounter.

UFC Career Implications

The RAF 6 incident adds to a series of controversial moments that have marked Tsarukyan's recent career trajectory. The 29-year-old was previously suspended following an altercation with a fan during his walkout at UFC 300, where he defeated Charles Oliveira. He also withdrew from a lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 just one day before the event due to injury.

Most recently, Tsarukyan drew criticism for headbutting Dan Hooker during the ceremonial weigh-ins before their UFC Qatar headliner, an action that some believe contributed to him being passed over for another title opportunity.

Despite this pattern of incidents, Tsarukyan remains confident that the UFC will view his actions at RAF 6 favorably, arguing that the organization would want their fighters to stand up for themselves against non-UFC competitors.

"It's the opposite. They are going to be happy that a UFC fighter don't let somebody to beat up a UFC fighter. UFC fighter goes to freestyle wrestling and beat the freestyle wrestler and to show what's the level of UFC," he explained.

Looking Forward

Tsarukyan maintains that his recent controversies have not damaged his relationship with the UFC and expects to compete for the lightweight title later this year. His confidence suggests he believes the organization views his actions as justified given the circumstances of the match.

The upcoming Hype FC rematch will provide another opportunity for Tsarukyan to prove his grappling credentials while potentially settling the score with Poullas in a more controlled environment. His previous appearance under the Hype FC banner resulted in a draw against UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov in December.

As the MMA community continues to debate the appropriateness of Tsarukyan's post-match retaliation, the lightweight contender remains unapologetic about his actions, viewing them as a necessary response to what he describes as sustained dirty tactics and disrespectful behavior from his opponent.

The March 11 rematch in Rio will undoubtedly draw significant attention, not only for the competitive aspect but also to see whether both fighters can maintain their composure in what promises to be another highly charged encounter between two competitors who clearly have unfinished business.