Arman Tsarukyan has stated his goal is to silence Colby Covington after defeating him in an upcoming wrestling bout under the RAF league. The Armenian fighter boldly predicted he will win with a 10-0 score, demonstrating complete dominance. This follows Tsarukyan's recent appearance in RAF where he has been competing in wrestling matches alongside his MMA career. The callout adds another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between active UFC fighters crossing over to wrestling competition. Details about when this potential matchup might take place have not been specified.
Arman Tsarukyan has called out Colby Covington for a wrestling match under the RAF league, declaring he will not only beat the veteran welterweight but shut him up in the process — predicting a dominant 10-0 scoreline.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3-0 professional MMA record and is currently ranked first in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, has been competing in RAF wrestling bouts alongside his MMA career and appears eager to extend that run against a recognizable opponent. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan is a well-rounded threat who lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Covington, nicknamed Chaos, is a 38-year-old welterweight from the United States who carries a 17-5-0 record and trains with MMA Masters. The five-foot-eleven orthodox fighter is known for his relentless wrestling-based pressure, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his MMA career, and lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute. He brings considerable grappling credentials to any such contest.
No date or official confirmation of the RAF matchup has been announced.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the UFC's top-ranked lightweight, so any high-profile appearance — inside or outside the octagon — draws significant attention to his name
- Covington's well-documented wrestling background makes this a genuine grappling matchup rather than a mismatch, raising the competitive stakes
- The crossover to RAF wrestling by active UFC fighters adds an unusual dimension to what is traditionally a rivalry settled inside the cage
