Arman Tsarukyan charged at Dillon Danis during the RAF 14 pre-event press conference in Las Vegas on Thursday, sparking a chaotic scene that left one security guard bleeding. The clash erupted after Danis revealed a provocative message on his t-shirt, which referenced Tsarukyan’s friend and occasional teammate, former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
During the press conference, the mood was tense but controlled, with both fighters exchanging sharp words. The situation escalated when Danis stood up to display his shirt, which featured a custom design showing Chimaev without a beard, accompanied by the phrase “Khamzat is my b****.” Tsarukyan immediately reacted by standing and lunging toward Danis, throwing a right hand that forced security personnel to intervene quickly.
The melee lasted nearly two minutes and caused significant disruption on the stage. Both fighters had to be restrained as the press conference devolved into a physical confrontation. A security guard was caught in the crossfire and sustained visible injuries, leaving him bleeding. The state of the event’s dais reflected the disorder, with equipment and materials scattered amid the scuffle.
This incident adds to Tsarukyan’s history of out-of-cage altercations. He was involved in a notorious head-butt incident against Dan Hooker before their UFC Qatar main event in late 2025. Earlier this year, he engaged in a heated brawl with Georgio Poullas, which set up a high-profile rematch at RAF 7 in March. Tsarukyan’s pattern of clashes outside the cage has drawn attention alongside his rising profile in the lightweight division.
RAF 14 is scheduled for Friday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, with the event’s headline fight featuring Tsarukyan against Danis. The bout will decide the promotion’s vacant middleweight crossover championship. The pre-fight violence raises questions about the fighters’ state of mind entering the cage.
The press conference chaos was captured on video and shared widely on social media. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani posted footage showing the moment Tsarukyan launched his attack and the resulting disorder. The clip confirmed the guard’s injury and the struggle to regain control of the event.
As of now, there have been no official statements from RAF organizers or the fighters regarding disciplinary action or consequences stemming from the altercation. The promotion has yet to address the impact of the incident on the upcoming fight or event security protocols.
According to Yahoo Sports.