TLDR
- Arman Tsarukyan defeated four-time NCAA All-American Lance Palmer in a dominant wrestling performance at Real American Freestyle
- Chael Sonnen praised Tsarukyan’s display and immediately attempted to book him in a superfight during the RAF 5 broadcast
- Sonnen tried to set up a match between Tsarukyan and Colby Covington, who had just defeated Luke Rockhold 12-0
- Covington declined and instead called out Georges St-Pierre for a future wrestling match
- The performance strengthened Tsarukyan’s reputation as an elite grappler in both MMA and wrestling competition
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMA Fighting
UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan delivered a dominant wrestling performance against four-time NCAA All-American Lance Palmer at a Real American Freestyle event. The display left commentator and former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen visibly impressed with the MMA star’s grappling ability.
Tsarukyan controlled Palmer throughout the match, thoroughly outworking the accomplished collegiate wrestler. Palmer earned All-American honors four times during his NCAA career, making Tsarukyan’s performance even more impressive to observers.
The bout took place on the undercard of RAF 5, which featured Colby Covington versus Luke Rockhold as the main event. Tsarukyan’s match served as one of several high-profile wrestling contests on the card.
Arman Tsarukyan leaves Chael Sonnen stunned by mauling four-time All-American wrestler in latest side quest https://t.co/TznoFK7o3y pic.twitter.com/K2V3xpR9Nk
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 11, 2026
Sonnen Attempts to Book Superfight
Immediately following the RAF 5 main event, Sonnen made an on-air push to secure a marquee matchup for Tsarukyan. He praised the lightweight fighter’s recent performances on the mat and called for a high-profile grappling showcase.
Sonnen attempted to set up a match between Tsarukyan and Covington during the post-fight interview. Covington declined the offer and instead called out Georges St-Pierre for a future RAF match.
The former UFC title challenger insisted that Tsarukyan deserves to face an established star in wrestling or grappling. Sonnen’s comments came as he provided commentary for the Covington-Rockhold bout, which Covington won by technical fall with a 12-0 score.
Tsarukyan’s Growing Reputation
The performance against Palmer further solidified Tsarukyan’s reputation as a force on the grappling circuit. The UFC fighter has competed in several wrestling and submission grappling events while maintaining his MMA career.
Tsarukyan currently ranks among the top lightweights in the UFC. His wrestling base has been a key factor in his success inside the octagon, where he has defeated several ranked opponents.
Palmer’s credentials made him a challenging test for any competitor crossing over from MMA. The wrestler’s four All-American honors demonstrated his elite level in collegiate competition before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Real American Freestyle has featured several UFC fighters testing their wrestling skills against pure grapplers. The promotion aims to showcase high-level wrestling talent from both MMA and traditional wrestling backgrounds.
Covington’s win over Rockhold served as the main attraction at RAF 5, held at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The former interim UFC welterweight champion used his collegiate wrestling background to dominate the former UFC middleweight champion.
Rockhold had not seriously competed in wrestling since high school before taking the RAF 5 match. Covington was a two-time Pac-10 champion and NCAA Division 1 All-American at Oregon State before his MMA career.
Sonnen’s attempt to book Tsarukyan against Covington would have matched two of the UFC’s best wrestlers. Both fighters built their MMA careers on strong grappling foundations and have shown interest in pure wrestling competition.
