Do armed characters gain an advantage versus oponents who are unarmed?
Wether it is improved unarmed strike, catch off-guard or disarm that creates the situation does not matter so much i believe.
The questions is more, if oponents are then denied their DEX to AC or something else.
If the unarmed character does NOT have Improved unarmed strike (IUS), they provoke an AoO each time they use their unarmed strike.
If they don't have IUS they also do not threaten and can not do AoO themselves.