Following his 13-1 dominant victory over Urijah Faber at RAF, Arman Tsarukyan issued a callout to Colby Covington. Tsarukyan promised to pursue a 10-0 scorecard against Covington, stating he gave one round to Faber out of respect for his age but will fight with maximum effort against Covington. He declared his intention to make people forget about Covington as a fighter and as a wrestler, vowing to "kick his ass." The post also mentions Gilbert Burns retired after the event, Ian Machado Garry will enter the top 15, and notes Khamzat Chimaev signed with RAF. Bo Nickal immediately responded to Chimaev's signing by challenging the champion. The event featured several exciting fights including Vologdin-Castaneda, Nallo-Herbert, and Gordon-Phillips.
Arman Tsarukyan used his post-fight platform at a recent RAF event to call out Colby Covington following a dominant performance against Urijah Faber, finishing with a 13-1 scoreline and delivering one of the night's most emphatic statements inside the cage.
Tsarukyan explained that he deliberately conceded one round to Faber out of respect for the veteran's age, but made clear that Covington would receive no such courtesy. He vowed to fight at maximum effort against the former welterweight contender, declaring his intention to erase Covington's reputation both as a fighter and as a wrestler.
The RAF card produced additional headlines beyond the callout. Gilbert Burns, the Brazilian welterweight who carried a 22-10 record and spent years ranked among the division's elite, retired following the event at age 39. Ian Machado Garry, currently ranked first in the welterweight division at just 28 years old, is set to enter the top 15 following his performance — the Irish striker owns a 17-1 record and lands an impressive 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. Khamzat Chimaev also made news by signing with RAF, a move that drew an immediate response from Bo Nickal, who publicly challenged the newly signed fighter for a championship bout.
Nickal, a 30-year-old American Top Team product carrying a 9-1 record, brings elite wrestling credentials to any potential matchup, averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes while connecting at a remarkable 61 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington signals his ambition to expand beyond his lightweight division and build his profile against marquee names
- Burns's retirement closes a significant chapter for the welterweight division, reshaping the landscape at 170 pounds
- Chimaev's arrival at RAF and Nickal's instant challenge suggests a high-profile title fight could be in motion
