Overview
- Hype FC confirmed Tsarukyan will headline a submission-only match against former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev on March 11 at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, with weight classes yet to be announced.
- Real American Freestyle set Tsarukyan vs. Georgio Poullas II for RAF 07 on March 28 at the Yuengling Center in Tampa after Poullas withdrew from a planned Hype FC rematch to return the bout to the RAF banner.
- The rematch follows their RAF 06 meeting in Tempe where Tsarukyan punched Poullas after time expired, sparking a melee as teams rushed the mat.
- Dana White said he is “not thrilled” with Tsarukyan and noted unspecified behind-the-scenes issues, adding he “doesn’t love” the RAF incident but called it “somebody else’s problem” as the UFC continues to allow such outside grappling appearances.
- Hype FC’s owner said he offered Poullas a seven-match, $2.6 million deal that was declined in favor of RAF, while Mokaev enters the Hype main event as a former UFC flyweight whose contract was not renewed and who later won the Brave CF title.