Merab Dvalishvili says Georgio Poullas acted overly aggressively in his RAF06 clash with Arman Tsarukyan
Merab Dvalishvili has claimed that Georgio Poullas crossed the line with excessive intensity during his RAF06 showdown against Arman Tsarukyan.
Last Saturday, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan returned to the wrestling mats to face Georgio Poullas. Tsarukyan won by decision, but the celebration turned chaotic when he immediately targeted Poullas, throwing punches that sparked a large melee between their camps.
Even though Tsarukyan was the first to land a punch on Poullas, Dvalishvili—present courtside alongside fellow UFC star Sean O’Malley—blamed Poullas, suggesting his aggressiveness provoked the brawl.
Is Arman Tsarukyan still a strong candidate for a UFC title shot given his recent incidents, including punching a fan at UFC 300, a headbutt on Dan Hooker, and the RAF06 brawl?
Merab Dvalishvili’s stance: Poullas started the chaos by pushing the intensity too far
Dvalishvili attended the event to support his teammate Aljamain Sterling, who was slated to fight Henry Cejudo. He and O’Malley watched the aftermath unfold up close.
“I think Georgio started that. He was doing too much,” Dvalishvili told The Ariel Helwani Show. “If there was going to be a fight, it should’ve happened during the wrestling portion, not afterward. Georgio was too aggressive—his face was being driven into the moment.”
After the incident, Poullas faced scrutiny from Henry Cejudo, who suggested Poullas would have been disqualified in a different freestyle wrestling setting.
Tsarukyan’s return to competition is imminent
Tsarukyan has competed four times across various events since his last UFC appearance in November. Before stepping back into UFC action, he is set to headline Hype FC on March 11, with UFC veterans Jean Silva and Shara Magomedov also on the card.
Following the RAF06 incident, Tsarukyan is leveraging the controversy with merchandise tied to the moment, aiming to capitalize on the viral moment.
Would you defend Tsarukyan’s actions as part of a fiery competitive mindset, or do you think Poullas’s approach crossed a line? Share your views in the comments.
