Arsen Harutyunyan is set to challenge undefeated champion Austin DeSanto for the RAF Bantamweight Championship at RAF 13 on September 18 at the Watsco Center in Miami.
Arsen Harutyunyan is set to challenge undefeated champion Austin DeSanto for the RAF Bantamweight Championship at RAF 13 on September 18 at the Watsco Center in Miami. This matchup marks a significant milestone for Harutyunyan, who has quickly made his mark in the Real American Freestyle (RAF) circuit, starting his career with a perfect 2-0 record.
Harutyunyan debuted at RAF 10 in June, where he showcased his skills with a decisive 14-4 technical fall victory over Caleb Smith. He followed this up with a closely contested win against Ben Davino, edging him 6-5 at RAF 11 in Milwaukee, setting the stage for what is now his biggest test yet.
DeSanto, entering the bout with an impressive 3-0 record in RAF competition, captured the bantamweight title with an 11-1 technical fall over Nathan Tomasello at RAF 5 and has successfully defended it against Reineri Ortega at RAF 10.
Bringing a rich international background, Harutyunyan is a two-time Olympian, a four-time European champion, and a three-time Senior World Championship bronze medalist from 2021 to 2023. This title match comes at an exciting time for Armenian combat sports, as Harutyunyan competes for the RAF world title in Miami just one night before Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment for Armenian athletes in the combat sports scene.