Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington had a face-off and agreed to meet in an upcoming wrestling match. The confrontation and agreement suggest both fighters are participating in wrestling competitions outside of their MMA careers. The post invites fans to pick their favorite between the two in a wrestling context. Details about the specific event, date, or organization were not provided in the announcement. Both fighters are known for their strong wrestling backgrounds in MMA competition.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and former welterweight title challenger Colby Covington have agreed to face each other in a wrestling match after the two crossed paths for a staredown, according to an announcement shared on April 19. No specific event, date, or organizing body has been confirmed for the contest.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3-0 professional MMA record and currently sits at number one in the UFC lightweight rankings. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, brings a 72-inch reach and a well-rounded game to the mat, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 50 percent accuracy clip throughout his career.
Covington, 38, is a 17-5-0 veteran from the United States who trains at MMA Masters. Known throughout the sport as one of its most prolific wrestlers, "Chaos" averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. He also stands three inches taller than Tsarukyan at five-foot-eleven and shares the same 72-inch reach as his prospective opponent.
Why it matters
- Both fighters boast nearly identical reach measurements and comparable takedown rates, making for an intriguing stylistic matchup on the mat
- The challenge moves outside MMA competition entirely, with no sanctioning body or ruleset yet attached to the contest
- For Tsarukyan, the number-one-ranked lightweight, any public competition keeps his profile elevated while he awaits his next UFC assignment
- Covington's participation signals continued competitive activity despite his current standing in the welterweight division
