The wrestling community’s patience appears to have finally worn thin with social media sensation Georgio Poullas. Fans have compiled mounting evidence contradicting his assertion that he remains undefeated in his viral “$1,000 takedown challenge.”
Despite video footage circulating online that appears to show multiple instances where challengers successfully brought the former state champion wrestler to the mat, Poullas continues to stand firm on his claim.
During an appearance on UFC bantamweight contender Marlon “Chito” Vera’s podcast, he doubled down on his position.
“I literally haven’t been taken down,” Poullas insisted. “Everybody’s in my comments are like ‘Oh he doesn’t post when he gets taken down.’ I’m like bro, I literally haven’t been taken down.”
“If I was the ref, I’d score it as a takedown and then reversal,” one wrestling community member commented on social media. “Joseph literally foot swept Georgio to his back and Georgio had to hip heist to get out.”
According to discussions within the wrestling community, additional clips have surfaced showing questionable outcomes.
One incident allegedly occurred at a high school in Albuquerque, where witnesses claim Poullas was taken down and subsequently had students delete their recordings. According to these accounts, the challenger was never paid the promised prize money.
A third clip, one involving a police officer as the challenger, was reportedly released by wrestler Pat Downey in an attempt to document what he considered clear evidence of a successful takedown.
The controversy surrounding Poullas escalated significantly following his participation in a wrestling match against UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 6. The bout itself was marked by rough tactics, with Poullas employing aggressive hand touches and physical contact that frustrated Tsarukyan’s corner.
The match concluded with Tsarukyan securing the victory, but the aftermath quickly spiraled into chaos when Tsarukyan shoved and then struck Poullas immediately after the final whistle.
The incident triggered a melee involving both teams and event security. During the chaos, a security guard physically took Poullas down while attempting to restore order.
Poullas was subsequently seen receiving medical treatment with a neck brace, claiming he had been “jumped” and that his family had to defend him. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan stated that Poullas’ rough behavior during the match, including alleged eye pokes and slaps, had provoked his response, though he waited until the official conclusion to retaliate.
The fallout has continued to unfold on social media, with both wrestlers exchanging words and debating a potential rematch.
Additionally, Olympic wrestler and MMA veteran Ben Askren openly questioned Poullas’ wrestling ability and physique while providing analysis for RAF 6.
“I think he’s pretty tired and so I think he’s trying to get a little extra rest right now because those st**oids don’t help you. They don’t help you go for long,” Askren said during the broadcast.
Askren didn’t stop there. He also criticized Poullas’ wrestling credentials: “I think Georgio is a very average wrestler. If you look at his college record it’s not very good and I think he’s afraid to get exposed.”
The PED accusations came despite Poullas maintaining he is natural. In a pre-event interview with Parry Punch, he addressed the ongoing speculation.
“Yeah, I do get a lot of accusations of people asking me if I’m natty and that to me is great to hear. You know, at the end of the day, a hundred percent.”
However, critics have pointed to physical markers often associated with PED use, particularly his trapezius and deltoid development.
