Every time Arman Tsarukyan competes, you can be pretty sure of one or two things: firstly, elite skills. And the chaos of the other.
Tsarukyan put those two hands together Friday at the Fontainebleu Complex in Las Vegas, dominating Dillon Danis in the main event of RAF 14 to win the first crossover middleweight championship and extend his own personal real American freestyle wrestling record to 8-1 – then stomping his rival for good measure.
Advertisement
This was an extraordinarily unnecessary escalation, which could have caused carnage had the RAF not doubled down on security following an incident at Thursday’s press conference in which Tsarukyan attacked Danis.
Danis (0-3 RAF) wasn’t expected to give Tsarukyan much of a test, considering his back-to-back losses in RAF matches earlier this year – to Colby Covington by tech fall and Khamzat Chimaev by fall.
And although it took Tsarukyan about a minute to get going, starting with a takedown point, it wasn’t long before one takedown and stomach lock after another gave him an insurmountable 10-0 lead, enough for victory via tech fall.
But Tsarukyan’s good work was almost undone when he got up from the mat stomping on Danis’ chest.
Before the situation escalated, security intervened. It’s unclear whether as much security will be needed at the next event, RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14, when Tsarukyan puts his newly won title on the line against MMA veteran Neiman Gracie in the co-main event.
Advertisement
The Abu Dhabi main event features a grudge match between Khamzat Chimaev and RAF cruiserweight crossover champion Colby Covington (5-0 RAF), and it’s a matchup “Borz” will have confidence in after dominating former UFC champion Robbie Lawler (0-1 RAF) via tech pinfall in the first period, extending his RAF record to 3-0.
Other notable results from RAF 14 included Lucia Yepez’s strawweight championship victory over Sarah Hildebrandt by a score of 8-7 after three periods, Sebastian Rivera’s epic comeback against Vito Arujau and a passing of the torch when newcomer Michael Caliendo defeated Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs by a score of 7-5.
Check out the full results and highlights from RAF 14 below, along with Uncrown’s play-by-play from the entire event.
Advertisement
RAF14 results
Middleweight Crossover Championship: Arman Tsarukyan def. Dillon Danis via technical fall in the first period (10-0)
Catchweight Crossover: Khamzat Chimaev def. Robbie Lawler via technical fall in the first period (11-0) | Watch highlights
Strawweight Championship: Lucia Yepez def. Sarah Hildebrandt (8-7)
Featherweight: Sebastian Rivera def. Vito Arujau (11-11)
Middleweight: Michael Caliendo def. Jordan Burroughs (7-5) | Watch highlights
Lightweight Championship: Ridge Lovett def. Jordan Oliver via technical fall in the third period (13-2)
Heavyweight: Yonger Bastida def. Zach Elam (9-1)
Cruiserweight: Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov def. Mekhi Lewis (5-4)
Advertisement
Middleweight: Bella Mir def. Hope Chase via a technological fall in the second period (10-0) | Watch highlights
Catchweight Crossover: Pat Downey def. Magomed Magomedkerimov via a pinfall in the second period (9-4)
Crossover Cruiserweight: Brendan Allen def. Alexander Shlemenko via technical fall in the first period (10-0) | Watch highlights
Featherweight: Dylan Ragusin beats Juan Archuleta via a technical fall in the first period (10-0)
Uncrowned Staff
Alan Dawson
It’s already physical. Tsarukyan gets an out point. Next, opt for a hook. Head lock. Danis is down and Arman leads 3-0! Wow! Tsarukyan resorted to gut wrench after gut wrench. I’m just accumulating points! And it’s 10-0! This is a victory via technological fall.
And Tsarukuyan gets up, stomping on Danis’ chest! This could have started everything! But calm returns quickly.
Alan Dawson
… while Arman Tsarukyan, who goes to Viva Las Vegas, enters Fontainebleu for his match with Dillon Danis.
On the ring music alone, he wins by pinfall.
Alan Dawson
Alan Dawson
“Glad to get this guy and finally break his neck.” — Khamzat Chimaev.
Alan Dawson
There’s already a clear physical difference between Chimaev and Lawler, but I doubt Robbie will be fazed if you saw how fearless he was earlier this week. Chimaev gets two early, tries to hurt his guts. I was about to say that it won’t be long before Lawler is put on the shot clock and the ref does it a minute later. It’s now 4-0 and Chimaev is tearing up. That’s six! Another slap in the gut! That’s eight! There is the physical! It will be nine o’clock when the shot clock expires! Now 11-0 and all Lawler can do is shake his head. Chimaev is not even out of breath. Or sweat. WHAT A BEAST!
Alan Dawson
…Will Khamzat win by fall. Either technical or pin. This is how he has won his two RAF matches so far, against Dillon Danis and then Tyron Woodley. It’s surely no different. If that’s the case, maybe we should rename this promotion Real Russian Freestyle.
Alan Dawson
Yepez shows expert defense in the third. She then converts into attack and advances to 8-3 thanks to a reversal. This creates a problem for Hildebrandt who may feel like every time she attacks she risks losing points due to Yepez’s backhands. We finish 8-7! Hildebrant scores on her but it’s not enough to win!
Alan Dawson
Big points for Lucia Yepez who takes the advantage in the third period thanks to a succession of points at the end of the second, 5-1 now.
Alan Dawson
Alan Dawson
We’re up 10-2 to start the third period, but Rivera gets two more and he’s back in the game! From almost having been a technician to a deficit of six points. Rivera sends Arujau flying into the air! That’s two. Hose wrench. Two more! Wow! It’s only 11:00 p.m. This could go in any direction! Make it 11-9 because of a takedown. A takedown at 11-11 effectively puts Rivera in the lead! This could be quite a comeback. Is this another outing?! Did Rivera just win!!!??? I think so! It’s 11-11! WOW! What a game !
Alan Dawson
Rivera on the shot clock and it’s the first point scored for Arujau, who adds it to two of his own. Oh! My! Goodness! A five-point gesture! Arujau with HUGE airtime across the border! WOW!!! 8-1 in the second period with a minute to play. It was incredible! Two more for Arujau. 10-1. Can he get the technology here, now?!
Alan Dawson
“It feels good. Everyone doubted me, but I came out and did it against a great opponent.” —Michael Caliendo on Jordan Burroughs.
Alan Dawson
Caliendo’s best work comes from the mirror. When Burroughs goes down, Caliendo goes down, causing Burroughs to get back up. And that’s what they keep repeating. Caliendo has now started the shot clock. But he is completely mistreated! An awesome double! It’s 5-2! Now 5-3! Could this be an epic comeback? He just needs a takedown. Oh! Is this an ankle choice?! Caliendo in waterfall position. Now it goes to 7-3! Burroughs is still fighting! Caliendo will do it! Burroughs brought it back 7-5 but Caliendo wins! Burroughs makes the contact!
Alan Dawson
Caliendo gets another takedown and Burroughs is now down 5-0. Burroughs blasts double legs against all kinds of opponents, but yet Caliendo does a job of thwarting this world-famous offense. Caliendo in total control.
Alan Dawson
Huge opportunity for Caliendo, who shows his strength EARLY, with a power push. 1-0. Burroughs pretends. Caliendo advances to 4-0. Burroughs pulls up his socks. He’s awake now. And he better be. Otherwise this match will escape him! Good start for Caliendo!
Alan Dawson
And he calls Michael Caliendo his toughest match.
Alan Dawson
Huge performance from Lovett who gets an almost unprecedented technological fall at 13-2! WOW!
Alan Dawson
Sporadic outings see Lovett gaining solitary points, bit by bit. Oliver cut Lovett’s lead in half with a clever move in the second half. A well drilled double leg. Lovett picks up two more then tries to turn Oliver. Lovett supports Oliver, but time is running out. It’s 6-2 with one period to play.
Alan Dawson
Elam finally made the score 5-1, a little more than 20 seconds into the third period. Elam with a front headlock, goes for a turn but reverses. Bastida gets two more. 7-1. Bastida finishes strong, advancing to 9-1 with dominant positions.
Gn sports
