Overview
- Tsarukyan routed four-time NCAA All-American Lance Palmer with a first-period 10-0 technical fall at RAF 5 in Sunrise, Florida, using front headlocks, pushouts, a takedown and a gut-wrench turn.
- Palmer’s pedigree includes two WSOF titles and two PFL tournament wins, underscoring the significance of Tsarukyan’s one-sided result.
- Post-match, Tsarukyan said the UFC is trying to position Paddy Pimblett for a belt and argued Pimblett would avoid fighting him, while adding he is in shape to step in if the UFC 324 main event needs a replacement.
- Dana White has pointed to Tsarukyan’s late withdrawal from UFC 311 and a headbutt of Dan Hooker as factors in passing him over, and Tsarukyan claimed officials told him he was “too dangerous” for the promotion’s first Paramount card because of recent incidents.
- Tsarukyan called out Michael Chandler for a wrestling match; Chandler, who attended RAF 5, responded that he would "absolutely smash" Tsarukyan on the mats while focusing on a potential summer bout with Conor McGregor.