Arman Tsarukyan has spent the days since UFC 331 insisting his lightweight title shot is locked in. Real American Freestyle still has him booked for two wrestling matches before the year is out.
Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy with back-to-back elbows at 4:56 of the first round in the UFC 331 co-main event on Saturday in Los Angeles, extending his win streak to six. He remains scheduled to face Dillon Danis for the inaugural RAF Middleweight Crossover Championship in the main event of RAF 14 on Friday, October 23 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
On Monday, RAF added a second date. Co-founder Chad Bronstein told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck that Tsarukyan will also compete at the promotion’s Abu Dhabi debut on November 14 at Etihad Arena, a card headlined by Khamzat Chimaev.
“Arman will be wrestling in Abu Dhabi,” Bronstein said. No opponent has been named.
Title Shot Talk Meets A Busy Mat Schedule
Tsarukyan posted “Title shot secured” on X after the win, then went after lightweight champion Justin Gaethje at the UFC 331 post-fight press conference.
“He never says my name, so he’s scared,” Tsarukyan said, before laying out the champion’s options. “Either he’s gonna fight me or he’s gotta leave the title, give the opportunity for the young guys.”
Dana White said at the same press conference that Tsarukyan had turned his title hopes around, while making clear Gaethje gets to decide what comes next. The champion isn’t expected back in the Octagon until next year.
The Risk Of Staying Busy
The last time Tsarukyan had a title fight booked, he withdrew one day before UFC 311 in January 2025 with a back injury. He has leaned on RAF to stay active since, going 7-1 on the mats. The lone loss came against Colby Covington, who beat him to become the first RAF crossover champion at RAF 11 in July.
Danis brings his own uncertainty to Las Vegas. He is 0-2 in RAF after losses to Covington and Chimaev, and he withdrew from his August 29 MMA fight with Mike Perry at Duel Arena 1 roughly 48 hours out, later posting video of a stitched-up arm laceration.
RAF 14 was originally set for October 3 before moving to October 23 days later. It remains unclear whether the date change was tied to Danis’ injury.
