Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington had a face-off and agreed to meet in an upcoming wrestling match. The agreement came after the two fighters confronted each other, setting up what promises to be a competitive grappling bout. This follows Tsarukyan's recent dominant wrestling performance at RAF 08 where he called out Covington. The match will take place in a wrestling format rather than an MMA fight. No specific date or event for this wrestling showdown was mentioned in the post. The announcement has generated significant interest among fans eager to see which fighter's wrestling skills will prevail.
Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington have agreed to compete against each other in a wrestling match after the two fighters met face-to-face and confronted one another. The agreement, announced on April 19, 2026, follows a staredown between the pair and sets up a grappling-only contest rather than an MMA bout. No specific date or venue for the match has been confirmed.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the contest as the number-one ranked lightweight contender 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. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition and lands significant strikes at a 50 percent accuracy rate. The matchup comes on the heels of a dominant wrestling performance at RAF 08, during which Tsarukyan publicly called out Covington.
Covington, 38, nicknamed "Chaos," brings a 17-5-0 MMA record and a well-established reputation as one of the sport's most relentless wrestlers. The American fighter, who trains at MMA Masters, stands five-foot-eleven and shares the same 72-inch reach as Tsarukyan. He averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA, and his non-stop pressure wrestling style has defined his career at welterweight.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes; Covington averages 3.64, making this a closely matched grappling contest on paper.
- The matchup pits the top-ranked UFC lightweight against a former welterweight title challenger, crossing divisional lines in a unique format.
- A high-profile wrestling showcase between two active MMA competitors carries clear implications for both fighters' public profiles and divisional positioning.
