Top Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has firmly set his sights on a high-profile wrestling match against retired mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre. The ambitious callout follows Tsarukyan’s dominant performance at Real American Freestyle 14, where he secured a flawless victory in the event’s main headliner.
The grappling showdown took place on October 23 in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada, drawing significant attention from the combat sports community. Competing under the RAF banner, Tsarukyan squared off against grappling specialist and well-known MMA personality Dillon Danis. From the opening whistle, Tsarukyan showcased the elite wrestling pedigree and technical precision that have made him a formidable force inside the Octagon. He systematically dismantled Danis, ultimately cruising to a decisive 10-0 technical fall victory.
Rather than resting on his laurels or immediately pivoting back to his UFC championship aspirations, Tsarukyan used his post-match platform to outline a unique vision for his future in competitive wrestling. Speaking with members of the media backstage, the lightweight standout made it clear that he is not interested in taking standard grappling bouts against lesser-known competitors. Instead, he wants to build a resume of high-profile matches by testing his skills against the biggest and most respected names in the history of the sport.
"We’ve got a lot of names here, but I’m focusing on MMA fighters with the big names," Tsarukyan told reporters in Las Vegas, addressing his immediate athletic goals outside of mixed martial arts. "I don’t want to just wrestle with no names; I want to collect all big names, all the best fighters, so a lot of UFC fighters, good fighters signed. So, we’ll see, maybe GSP… They can bring in GSP; I would like to wrestle him."
The bold declaration immediately sent ripples through the MMA community, particularly given the legendary status of the potential opponent named. Georges St-Pierre, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial arts champions of all time, officially announced his retirement from active competition in February 2019. The iconic Canadian fighter last stepped into the UFC cage in November 2017 at UFC 217, where he delivered a memorable performance by submitting Michael Bisping in the third round to capture the UFC middleweight championship, adding a second division belt to his historic resume alongside his long-reigning welterweight legacy.
Since hanging up his four-ounce gloves, St-Pierre has remained largely removed from active combat sports competition, focusing instead on personal projects, coaching, and his legacy as an ambassador for the sport. Whether the prospect of a pure wrestling match under the RAF banner could coax the Hall of Famer out of retirement remains entirely to be seen, but Tsarukyan’s public challenge certainly establishes an intriguing possibility for future events.
For Tsarukyan, the pursuit of elite wrestling matches runs parallel to an already stellar career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Holding a professional MMA record of 24 wins against just 3 losses, Tsarukyan stands as one of the most dangerous and complete athletes competing in the talent-rich lightweight division. His relentless wrestling, evolving striking, and suffocating grappling pace have established him as a premier contender, keeping him perpetually on the doorstep of a UFC world championship opportunity.
By mixing high-level freestyle wrestling appearances under the Real American Freestyle banner with his active UFC schedule, Tsarukyan is actively expanding his combat sports footprint. His emphatic 10-0 victory over Dillon Danis at RAF 14 proved that his transitional grappling skills translate exceptionally well to the pure wrestling format, making him a formidable matchup for anyone brave enough to step onto the mat with him.
As the combat sports world digests the post-fight callout, attention now turns to RAF promoters to see if they can orchestrate what would be a monumental grappling encounter. While bringing a legend like Georges St-Pierre back to active competition is a monumental task, Arman Tsarukyan has made it abundantly clear that he is swinging for the fences and determined to collect the biggest names in the sport, one elite opponent at a time.
