Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber with a dominant 13-1 technical superiority performance at RAF. After the match, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, promising to aim for a 10-0 shutout and saying he gave Faber one point out of respect for his age but would fight harder against Covington. He stated he will make people forget about Covington as a fighter and then as a wrestler entirely. The post also notes that Khamzat Chimaev signed with RAF, prompting an immediate challenge from Bo Nickal. Gilbert Burns retired following his fight on what was described as a good event with several exciting bouts and knockouts.
Arman Tsarukyan headlined a busy RAF event on April 19 with a commanding 13-1 technical superiority victory over Urijah Faber, and wasted no time shifting his attention toward welterweight contender Colby Covington in the aftermath.
Tsarukyan dominated the contest from start to finish, surrendering just a single point to Faber — a concession he framed as a gesture of respect for his opponent's age rather than any reflection of competitive difficulty. Speaking after the win, Tsarukyan vowed to make people forget Covington both as a fighter and as a wrestler, promising an even more ruthless performance that would result in a 10-0 shutout.
Gilbert Burns, the 39-year-old Brazilian welterweight ranked thirteenth in his division, announced his retirement following his own bout on the card. Burns finishes his career at 22 wins and 10 losses, having been one of the more technically rounded fighters in the welterweight division throughout his time competing, averaging 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also contributing on the ground with 2.12 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
The event carried additional significance with the news that Khamzat Chimaev has signed with RAF. The 32-year-old Borz, currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, carries a 15-1 record and an imposing statistical profile — landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy while averaging an elite 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes. His arrival immediately drew a public callout from Bo Nickal, the 30-year-old American prospect out of American Top Team Happy Valley who sits at 9-1. Nickal is a volume grappler in his own right, averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per fifteen minutes alongside a 61 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout positions him for a high-profile welterweight clash with Covington
- Burns's retirement marks the end of a notable welterweight career at 22-10
- Chimaev's RAF signing and the instant Nickal challenge sets up one of the most anticipated grappling-heavy matchups possible at middleweight
