Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington held a staredown and have agreed to face each other in an upcoming wrestling match. The announcement was made on April 19, 2026. No specific date or venue has been confirmed for the wrestling bout. This appears to be separate from any potential UFC matchup between the two fighters. Both fighters have agreed to the competition, which will be a pure wrestling contest rather than an MMA fight.
Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington have agreed to compete against each other in a wrestling match, with the two fighters confirming the bout following a staredown on April 19, 2026. No date or venue has been set for the contest, which will be a pure wrestling competition rather than an MMA fight.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC, carrying a professional MMA record of 23-3-0. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built a reputation as a well-rounded threat, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent striking accuracy rate, while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Covington, 38, trains out of MMA Masters and holds a professional record of 17-5-0. Known by the nickname "Chaos," the American stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and has long been regarded as one of MMA's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. He lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute at 38 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are credentialed grapplers, making the wrestling format a legitimate test rather than a novelty
- Tsarukyan's takedown output of 3.26 per 15 minutes puts him close to Covington's 3.64, suggesting the wrestling contest will be competitive
- The announcement raises the profile of a potential UFC matchup between the two, though this wrestling bout appears to be a separate event entirely
- With no confirmed date or venue, the timeline for the competition remains open
