Arman Tsarukyan has given his honest take on Khamzat Chimaev's RAF debut.
What did Arman Tsarukyan say?
Arman Tsarukyan believes Chimaev should ease into wrestling against familiar MMA competition.
Why is this important for Khamzat Chimaev?
Tsarukyan suggested names like Bo Nickal and Colby Covington for Chimaev's debut, as they are legit wrestlers with MMA experience.
What about Kyle Snyder?
Arman Tsarukyan pushed back on the idea of Chimaev competing against Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder, citing the huge gap in wrestling experience.
Arman Tsarukyan thinks Chimaev needs to start slow and easy, competing against guys from MMA before facing Olympic wrestlers.
On April 22, 2026, Tsarukyan shared his opinions, saying he wants to see Bo Nickal and Colby Covington as Chimaev's debut opponents.
Tsarukyan's advice feels genuine, coming from a lightweight star who started his career as a wrestler and still competes under the RAF banner.
The UFC middleweight champion should take Tsarukyan's advice and start with familiar opponents, rather than rushing into elite Olympic-level wrestlers.
This will give Chimaev a chance to feel how wrestling is, after doing MMA for the last 10 years.
Arman Tsarukyan's experience in both MMA and wrestling makes his opinion valuable for Khamzat Chimaev's RAF debut.
What comes next for Khamzat Chimaev?
Chimaev's RAF debut is highly anticipated, and his choice of opponents will be crucial in determining his success in the wrestling world.