Khamzat Chimaev phoned Arman Tsarukyan moments after his RAF 6 melee and asked whether he should fly out to take part in the confrontation.
The chaos followed Tsarukyan’s 5-3 points win over Georgio Poullas at Real American Freestyle 6 in Tempe, Arizona.
A tense grappling contest boiled over once the final buzzer sounded, leading to a benches-clearing scuffle. Chimaev’s response quickly became a focal point of discussion afterward.
Khamzat Chimaev offered to join the fight with Arman Tsarukyan
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Arman Tsarukyan disclosed that the UFC middleweight champion contacted him immediately after the altercation.
He said Khamzat Chimaev appeared eager to involve himself despite being elsewhere. Tsarukyan indicated that his training partner thrives in high-intensity situations.
“Khamzat called me right away and said, ‘Bro, should I fly out? Why didn’t you invite me? When there’s a fight, you never invite me! I gotta be there!’”
“We shouldn’t be together for fights. He’s definitely crazier. Everybody’s scared of him. He’s strong, he knows he has a big name, and he doesn’t go down to anybody.”
Late exchange sparked the altercation
Holding a 5-3 advantage, Tsarukyan defended a last-ditch takedown attempt from Poullas as the clock expired in the third period.
He then threw a punch after time had run out, which prompted both corners to storm the mat.
More than a dozen people entered the competition area before officials restored control, and Tsarukyan was confirmed as the winner. Footage from the scene also captured Chimaev smiling while observing the incident.
The episode has further heightened attention around Tsarukyan as he awaits confirmation of his next UFC opportunity.
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