Arman Tsarukyan has stated that his goal is to silence Colby Covington after defeating him in an upcoming wrestling match in the RAF league. Tsarukyan boldly predicted he will win with a 10-0 score against Covington. The comments suggest Tsarukyan is confident in his wrestling abilities and motivated to dominate Covington completely. The post includes some skepticism about whether the 10-0 prediction is realistic. No specific date or event has been announced for this potential wrestling bout.
Arman Tsarukyan has issued a bold challenge to Colby Covington, declaring he will beat the former welterweight contender by a 10-0 score in a wrestling match under the RAF league banner. No official date or event has been announced for the potential bout, but Tsarukyan made clear he intends to completely shut out Covington on the mat.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC with a professional MMA record of 23-3. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, has built a reputation as a well-rounded threat, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. That combination of striking sharpness and grappling output makes his confidence in a pure wrestling setting understandable.
Covington, 38, carries a record of 17-5 and has long been known in MMA circles for his relentless wrestling pressure. Fighting out of MMA Masters, "Chaos" averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute, though his 38 percent striking accuracy trails Tsarukyan's considerably. The American is listed at five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, while Tsarukyan stands five-foot-seven and shares that same 72-inch reach measurement.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the UFC's top-ranked lightweight, so any high-profile confrontation raises his visibility heading toward a potential title shot
- Covington's wrestling-heavy identity makes this matchup a direct challenge to his most celebrated skill
- The 10-0 prediction, which has already drawn public skepticism, adds a layer of personal rivalry to what could otherwise be a straightforward sporting contest
- No confirmed date means the challenge remains aspirational for now, with the RAF framework providing an unusual non-MMA stage for the rivalry to develop
