Dana White’s Growing Concerns Over Arman Tsarukyan’s Conduct

Las Vegas, NV – March 8, 2026 – UFC CEO Dana White has expressed increasing frustration with lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, citing a pattern of behavior that extends beyond recent on-camera incidents. While acknowledging Tsarukyan’s talent, White suggests a deeper set of issues are impacting the fighter’s standing within the promotion.

A History of Controversy

Tsarukyan’s recent actions, including a post-match brawl following his win against Georgio Poullas at RAF06, have drawn scrutiny. However, White insists the concerns predate this incident. “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,” White stated at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference. [Source: MMA Junkie]

The issues began to surface in January of last year when Tsarukyan withdrew from a scheduled UFC 311 main event due to a back injury preventing him from making weight. [Source: Bloody Elbow] This withdrawal, coupled with subsequent incidents, has reportedly strained his relationship with the UFC.

Previous Incidents

Prior to the RAF06 brawl, Tsarukyan faced controversy at UFC 300 when he struck a fan during his ring walk. He was later fined $25,000 and suspended for nine months. [Source: Essentially Sports] Further complicating matters, a ceremonial weigh-in face-off with Dan Hooker resulted in a headbutt that reportedly broke Hooker’s nose.

Active Outside the Octagon

Despite the controversies, Tsarukyan has remained active in grappling and wrestling competitions. His bout with Poullas was his fourth since the Hooker incident, with a rematch already scheduled for March 28 and a grappling match against Muhammad Mokaev planned for the near future.

White’s Stance on the RAF Brawl

When questioned specifically about the RAF incident, White downplayed its significance, stating, “I don’t give a s—t about any of that stuff,” and emphasizing that it was “somebody else’s problem, not mine.” [Source: Essentially Sports] However, he reiterated that his concerns regarding Tsarukyan are more extensive than public perception suggests.

Implications for a Title Shot

The accumulation of these incidents raises questions about whether Tsarukyan can be trusted with a UFC title shot. The UFC CEO’s comments suggest a growing lack of confidence in the lightweight contender, potentially impacting his future opportunities within the organization. [Source: Sportskeeda]