Overview
- Tsarukyan said Wednesday on the PBD Podcast that matchmakers first called him for Michael Chandler on the June 14 White House card before choosing Mauricio Ruffy instead.
- He has not fought in the UFC since November and is booked for a 175-pound Real American Freestyle match against Keelon Jimison on May 30 at RAF 9 in Arlington, Texas.
- He has offered to weigh in as the backup for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, though he says Gaethje’s track record makes a late withdrawal unlikely.
- Jorge Masvidal urged the UFC to stop sidelining Tsarukyan and said Dana White is the only person who can clear the way for his next UFC fight.
- RAF 9 features Olympic champion Gable Steveson vs. Alexandr Romanov, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Frankie Edgar, and Colby Covington vs. Chris Weidman, reflecting RAF’s push to book UFC names while ongoing UFC rules limit active-roster crossovers.