Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas are slated for an unexpected rematch, this time under the Hype FC banner. Their previous encounter at RAF 06, a wrestling match, ended in significant controversy. Tsarukyan had defeated Poullas (with a 5-3 record), but the contest was heavily marred by unsportsmanlike conduct from Poullas, who reportedly resorted to eye pokes and slaps, leading to multiple interruptions.
The tension between the two escalated dramatically after the final buzzer. Tsarukyan, failing to keep his composure, pushed Poullas and landed a punch to his face, which quickly escalated into a wider brawl involving both corners.
Despite the recent tumultuous incident, “Ahalkalakets” (Arman Tsarukyan) is now scheduled to headline HYPE FC’s main event in Rio on March 11. The upcoming bout against Georgio Poullas will feature a submission-only grappling ruleset.
Tsarukyan’s last appearance with Hype FC was in December, where he faced UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov. That match concluded in a draw, as neither fighter was able to secure a finish.
The 29-year-old fighter recently expressed his expectation to challenge for the UFC lightweight title later this year. His recent actions and the controversy surrounding his last fight are reportedly not expected to negatively impact his relationship with the UFC. In the interim, the Armenian athlete aims to stay active through grappling and wrestling, continuing to accumulate significant accolades.
Arman Tsarukyan’s Stance on Future Bouts with Georgio Poullas
Earlier today, Arman Tsarukyan shared his strong disinterest in engaging in another wrestling rematch with Georgio Poullas. In an interview, he remarked that he would much rather prefer a “street fight” with the amateur wrestler. Tsarukyan was quoted saying, “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.”
In the same interview, “Ahalkalakets” further elaborated on his dissatisfaction with the officiating at RAF 06. He pointed out that he was not impressed with the judges and the referee, expressing his expectation for them to intervene more effectively and award him points, especially after his opponent allegedly attempted eye pokes, slaps, and even tried to break his fingers during the match.
