Arman Tsarukyan beat Georgio Poullas 9-3 in the RAF 07 main event in Tampa, Florida. The win settled a tense rivalry that began after their first meeting at RAF 06.
Fight summary
The match was a tactical, score-based battle under the RAF rules. Both fighters felt each other out early and fought for control in the clinch. Tsarukyan used the shot clock to his advantage and accumulated points with pressure, front headlocks, and a late takedown to seal the win.
Key moments
In the first period, the action was close. Tsarukyan earned a point when Poullas failed to score during the 30-second shot-clock time. The second period started late after Poullas needed his hand wrapped and toweled off.
Early in the second, Poullas looked for an underhook but could not create scoring offense. He was put on the shot clock again and managed a front headlock, but could not score. Tsarukyan took another point. Near the end of that period, Tsarukyan shot in for a takedown but Poullas stayed on his feet.
The third period decided the fight. Tsarukyan pushed Poullas out of bounds with double-unders for a point, then earned two points for exposure from a front headlock. Poullas answered with a takedown, but Tsarukyan quickly got a push out. That exchange left the score 5-3 in favor of Tsarukyan.
With Poullas needing a takedown to get back in the match, Tsarukyan got behind him and secured a takedown in the closing seconds. The final score was 9-3 for Tsarukyan.
Background and records
This fight was a rematch of their meeting at RAF 06. Tsarukyan also won that bout on points. That earlier match turned heated when Poullas committed a foul, and the two fighters had a post-match brawl.
Tsarukyan is now 3-0 in RAF promotion fights. He made his RAF debut at RAF 05 with a win over Lance Palmer. Poullas is now 1-2 in RAF. He also debuted at RAF 05, with a technical fall victory over Keelon Jimison.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Arman Tsarukyan | Won by takedown, 9-3 (RAF 07 main event) |
| Georgio Poullas | Lost 9-3 (RAF 07 main event) |
What this means
Tsarukyan’s win keeps his perfect start in RAF intact and ends the immediate rivalry on a clear note. Poullas will look to regroup after the loss and his 1-2 record in RAF. Both fighters showed different strengths: Tsarukyan’s control and late takedown timing, and Poullas’s ability to fight back under pressure.
