Arman Tsarukyan aims to silence Colby Covington with 10-0 RAF victory

Arman Tsarukyan has issued a bold challenge to Colby Covington, predicting he will shut him out by a 10-0 score in a potential RAF wrestling bout between the two fighters.

Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3 record and currently holds the number-one ranking in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian-born fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, has built a reputation as one of the more well-rounded athletes in the sport. He averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, and adds 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes to his offensive toolkit. He stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach.

Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," is a 38-year-old American fighter out of MMA Masters with a professional record of 17-5. A fixture in the welterweight division and a known wrestling specialist, Covington averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and 3.81 significant strikes per minute. He stands five-foot-eleven and also carries a 72-inch reach.

Tsarukyan's callout comes in the context of the RAF, a grappling-only competition league, where Covington's wrestling credentials would be front and center. The Armenian fighter made clear he is confident in his ability to dominate Covington in that format, predicting a lopsided shutout result.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, making any high-profile callout significant for his visibility in the division
• A RAF wrestling matchup would put both men's grappling credentials directly on the line outside the cage
• Covington is known as one of the sport's elite wrestlers, making Tsarukyan's 10-0 prediction a deliberate and pointed provocation
• The size difference — Tsarukyan at lightweight versus Covington at welterweight — adds another layer to the stylistic conversation