Arman Tsarukyan vs Anthony Pettis: RAF 15 title fight announced for November 28
Arman Tsarukyan and Anthony Pettis ahead of their RAF 15 middleweight crossover title wrestling match on November 28, 2026.
Arman Tsarukyan will face former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in the main event of RAF 15 on November 28, with the Armenian contender putting his Real American Freestyle (RAF) middleweight crossover title on the line at NOW Arena in the Chicago area.
The matchup replaces Pettis’ originally scheduled wrestling contest against Donald Cerrone, who has withdrawn from the event because of an injury. The change also reshapes the card, moving Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong from the main event to the co-main event.
The announcement gives Tsarukyan another high-profile opportunity to establish himself in freestyle wrestling while maintaining his ambitions in mixed martial arts. It also presents Pettis with a very different challenge from the one he was initially preparing for: a title bout against a rival known for his wrestling ability.
For fight fans, the biggest question is whether Pettis can adapt quickly enough to challenge Tsarukyan on the mat.
Arman Tsarukyan gets another title opportunity at RAF 15
Tsarukyan enters the contest after winning the inaugural RAF middleweight crossover championship at RAF 14 in Las Vegas on October 23. He defeated Dillon Danis by a dominant 10-0 technical fall in just 1 minute, 18 seconds, improving his RAF record to 8-1.
A technical fall is awarded when a wrestler establishes a sufficiently large scoring advantage under the competition’s rules, ending the contest before the normal time expires. Tsarukyan’s emphatic victory demonstrated how effectively he could control an opponent in the wrestling format.
The UFC lightweight contender now has a demanding November ahead. Before meeting Pettis in Chicago, he is scheduled to face Neiman Gracie in a non-title wrestling match at RAF’s Abu Dhabi event on November 14.
That leaves Tsarukyan with two scheduled wrestling appearances within a two-week period. The additional mat time could help him maintain his rhythm, although the short turnaround also makes recovery and preparation important considerations.
Tsarukyan has previously expressed interest in testing himself against prominent names from combat sports. After beating Danis, he called out former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre. That contest has not materialized, but the Pettis matchup gives him another recognizable opponent to face outside the UFC.
Anthony Pettis faces a different kind of challenge
Pettis built his reputation through creative striking, athleticism and memorable performances in mixed martial arts. Known as “Showtime,” he became UFC lightweight champion in 2013 after defeating Benson Henderson by first-round submission.
His experience against elite MMA competition makes him a significant name for RAF, but wrestling presents a different test from fighting inside the octagon.
Pettis was originally booked to make his RAF debut against Cerrone, renewing a rivalry that had already produced two UFC meetings. Pettis won both encounters, including a first-round knockout in their 2013 meeting and a unanimous-decision victory at UFC 249 in 2020.
Instead of a third contest against Cerrone, Pettis must now prepare for Tsarukyan, whose wrestling credentials make the title matchup particularly demanding.
Pettis has not competed in a freestyle wrestling match before, according to reports surrounding the announcement. His most recent combat sports appearance was a boxing bout against Chris Avila in 2024, making this a substantial change in discipline.
MMA experience can provide useful advantages, including balance, physical conditioning and familiarity with controlling opponents. However, freestyle wrestling relies on specific techniques for takedowns, positioning, escapes and scoring. Success in the cage does not automatically translate to success on the wrestling mat.
The challenge for Pettis will be adapting those athletic skills to a format in which Tsarukyan already has demonstrated considerable proficiency.
Henry Cejudo vs Song Yadong moves to co-main event
The revised RAF 15 lineup also changes the position of another major attraction. Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong were initially scheduled to headline the event, but their lightweight crossover title contest will now serve as the co-main event.
Cejudo, a former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion and Olympic wrestling gold medalist, brings extensive wrestling experience to the promotion. Song, meanwhile, arrives with a strong reputation from the UFC’s bantamweight division.
Their meeting remains an important part of the card despite the scheduling change. With Tsarukyan vs. Pettis now topping the bill, RAF 15 features two crossover championship contests involving established MMA names.
The event is scheduled for November 28 at NOW Arena in the Chicago area. Fans should check the promotion’s latest event information for final bout details and broadcast arrangements.
Tsarukyan’s UFC title ambitions remain in focus
Tsarukyan’s wrestling commitments come as he continues pursuing a UFC lightweight championship opportunity. His performances outside the octagon have added another dimension to his competitive schedule, but his long-term MMA ambitions remain an important part of the story.
A potential title fight will depend on the UFC’s decisions and the lightweight division’s developing picture. For now, his immediate priorities are the scheduled bout against Gracie in Abu Dhabi and the championship defense against Pettis in Chicago.
The November 28 contest will reveal how Tsarukyan handles the pressure of defending his new RAF title against a former UFC champion. It will also show how quickly Pettis can adjust to a wrestling-only environment.
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