The planned submission grappling rematch between Georgio Poullas and Arman Tsarukyan has taken another dramatic turn. Poullas recently withdrew from their scheduled grappling bout in Brazil, forcing organizers to quickly adjust the event lineup.
While the cancellation initially surprised fans, the situation has since evolved with new developments regarding both fighters and the future of their rivalry.
The sudden withdrawal created a ripple effect across the event, forcing promoters to find a replacement opponent for Tsarukyan on short notice. The fight had drawn significant attention due to the heated rivalry between the two competitors.
Tsarukyan won that contest by points, but the aftermath quickly turned chaotic. After the match ended, Tsarukyan struck Poullas, triggering a large brawl involving both teams that quickly went viral across combat sports media.
The incident dramatically increased interest in a rematch. Fans and promoters immediately began pushing for another meeting between the two athletes to settle the rivalry.
According to event organizers and officials from Real American Freestyle, Poullas preferred the rematch to happen under the RAF promotion rather than a separate grappling event in Brazil.
RAF executives believed the rivalry, especially after the viral post-match brawl, should continue within their organization’s events. Because of that, Poullas chose to pull out of the Hype Fighting matchup.
The decision was not about physical issues but about where the rivalry would be settled.
With Poullas out of the Brazil event, Tsarukyan remains on the card.
Instead of facing Poullas, Tsarukyan will now compete against Muhammad Mokaev in the submission-only grappling main event.
Mokaev stepping in keeps Tsarukyan active and ensures the event still features a high-level grappling showcase.
Tsarukyan has quietly built a strong record in grappling competitions while competing in the UFC lightweight division. His participation in these events has become part of his broader strategy to sharpen his wrestling and submission skills.
Officials have confirmed the rematch will instead headline Real American Freestyle 07, scheduled for March 28 in Tampa, Florida.
The promotion believes hosting the rematch themselves will give the rivalry the attention it deserves after the explosive ending to their first meeting.
Because of the controversy surrounding their previous fight, the upcoming rematch is already one of the most anticipated grappling events on the RAF schedule.
The clash between Poullas and Tsarukyan highlights the growing crossover between MMA fighters and professional grappling competitions.
Athletes from organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship frequently participate in grappling matches to sharpen their ground game without the risks associated with striking.
These events allow fighters to showcase pure grappling skills while building rivalries that attract attention across the combat sports world.
Instead of ending the storyline, the withdrawal has helped move the rematch to Real American Freestyle 07, where the two competitors will finally meet again under the promotion that sparked their feud.
With the heated history between them and the viral brawl from their first match still fresh in fans’ minds, the upcoming rematch now carries even more anticipation than before.
While the cancellation initially surprised fans, the situation has since evolved with new developments regarding both fighters and the future of their rivalry.
Unexpected Withdrawal Shakes Up the Highly Anticipated Rematch
The grappling rematch between Poullas and Tsarukyan had been scheduled for March 11 at a Hype Fighting event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, Poullas pulled out shortly after the bout was announced, removing the matchup from the card.The sudden withdrawal created a ripple effect across the event, forcing promoters to find a replacement opponent for Tsarukyan on short notice. The fight had drawn significant attention due to the heated rivalry between the two competitors.
Background of the First Match Between Poullas and Tsarukyan
The rivalry between Poullas and Tsarukyan began at a Real American Freestyle event known as RAF 06, where the two faced off in a freestyle wrestling match.
Tsarukyan won that contest by points, but the aftermath quickly turned chaotic. After the match ended, Tsarukyan struck Poullas, triggering a large brawl involving both teams that quickly went viral across combat sports media.
The incident dramatically increased interest in a rematch. Fans and promoters immediately began pushing for another meeting between the two athletes to settle the rivalry.
Why Georgio Poullas Withdrew From the Grappling Match
Contrary to early speculation about injuries, Poullas’ withdrawal was reportedly strategic.According to event organizers and officials from Real American Freestyle, Poullas preferred the rematch to happen under the RAF promotion rather than a separate grappling event in Brazil.
RAF executives believed the rivalry, especially after the viral post-match brawl, should continue within their organization’s events. Because of that, Poullas chose to pull out of the Hype Fighting matchup.
The decision was not about physical issues but about where the rivalry would be settled.
Arman Tsarukyan Receives a New Opponent
With Poullas out of the Brazil event, Tsarukyan remains on the card.
Instead of facing Poullas, Tsarukyan will now compete against Muhammad Mokaev in the submission-only grappling main event.
Mokaev stepping in keeps Tsarukyan active and ensures the event still features a high-level grappling showcase.
Tsarukyan has quietly built a strong record in grappling competitions while competing in the UFC lightweight division. His participation in these events has become part of his broader strategy to sharpen his wrestling and submission skills.
The Rematch Is Already Rebooked
Even though the Brazil matchup was canceled, the rivalry between Poullas and Tsarukyan is far from over.Officials have confirmed the rematch will instead headline Real American Freestyle 07, scheduled for March 28 in Tampa, Florida.
The promotion believes hosting the rematch themselves will give the rivalry the attention it deserves after the explosive ending to their first meeting.
Because of the controversy surrounding their previous fight, the upcoming rematch is already one of the most anticipated grappling events on the RAF schedule.
Growing Attention Around the Rivalry
The clash between Poullas and Tsarukyan highlights the growing crossover between MMA fighters and professional grappling competitions.
Athletes from organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship frequently participate in grappling matches to sharpen their ground game without the risks associated with striking.
These events allow fighters to showcase pure grappling skills while building rivalries that attract attention across the combat sports world.
The Bottom Line
Georgio Poullas' withdrawal from the scheduled grappling rematch with Arman Tsarukyan initially looked like a major disruption for fans expecting the matchup in Brazil. However, the latest updates show that the rivalry is simply shifting to a different stage.Instead of ending the storyline, the withdrawal has helped move the rematch to Real American Freestyle 07, where the two competitors will finally meet again under the promotion that sparked their feud.
With the heated history between them and the viral brawl from their first match still fresh in fans’ minds, the upcoming rematch now carries even more anticipation than before.
