Overview
- Tsarukyan defeated Georgio Poullas 5-3 in Tempe, Arizona, then immediately shoved him to the mat and threw punches after time expired.
- The altercation escalated into a large melee involving coaches, teammates, security and onlookers, with UFC welterweight Colby Covington helping escort Poullas backstage as the event continued.
- Poullas was transported for treatment and said he was “jumped,” later claiming he scored the match’s only takedown while Tsarukyan earned push-out and penalty points.
- The bout featured repeated slaps, rough hand fighting and multiple stoppages, with some observers noting conduct that could have drawn disqualifications under standard freestyle rules.
- Tsarukyan posted “F—k around and find out” on social media as RAF’s Eric Bischoff criticized the prolonged chaos, and the episode renewed scrutiny of Tsarukyan’s prior incidents and his UFC title-shot prospects.