Arman Tsarukyan has been under scrutiny from UFC management after his actions at RAF 6. Despite being a top lightweight contender with a five-fight win streak, Tsarukyan tackled his opponent Georgio Poullas and threw punches on stage, causing a brawl before security could intervene.
“I’m not thrilled with Arman right now,” White said. “And there’s a lot of different reasons. It’s not just the stuff that you see publicly.”
Dana White says he’s still not thrilled with Arman Tsarukyan at the UFC 326 post fight press conference
“There’s a lot of reasons it’s not just the stuff you see publicly. Where there’s smoke there’s fire and Arman’s been smoking a lot lately” pic.twitter.com/mMzzeLfHk8
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) March 8, 2026
Past Issues Affecting UFC Trust
Tsarukyan’s behavior adds to a list of UFC concerns. Previously, he headbutted Dan Hooker, breaking his nose before their fight at UFC Qatar. He also missed a scheduled title fight against then-champion Islam Makhachev in 2025 due to injury, delaying his chance at a championship.
White addressed the RAF brawl but said it wasn’t the UFC’s problem.
“I don’t love it. But that night, that was somebody else’s problem, not mine. That’s really all I’ve got to say about that. The division’s heating up and lots of fun fights to make. We’ll get Arman figured out.”
The UFC president clarified that the incident doesn’t prevent other fighters from competing in RAF events, but it does make it harder for Tsarukyan to earn a title shot. “It’s not just the stuff that you see publicly,” White added, pointing to multiple issues beyond the brawl.
Despite the controversy, Tsarukyan remains a top lightweight contender. White confirmed the UFC will monitor his behavior closely before making decisions about future fights or championship opportunities.
