RAF announces Tsarukyan vs Covington for July 18 in Milwaukee

RAF has announced two upcoming events on its calendar, with the promotion confirming RAF 10 on June 13 in St. Louis and RAF 11 on July 18 in Milwaukee.

RAF 10 in St. Louis features a trio of notable matchups, including Khamzat Chimaev against Denis, Arman Tsarukyan against Tony Ferguson, and Aaron Pico taking on Lance Palmer. RAF 11 in Milwaukee then sees Tsarukyan booked against Colby Covington, part of a remarkable schedule that will see Tsarukyan compete at seven RAF events across the year.

Khamzat Chimaev enters his St. Louis bout as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits at number 10 in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates carries a 15-1 record out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "Borz" lands significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate and averages more than five takedowns per 15 minutes.

Tony Ferguson, the 42-year-old American known as "El Cucuy," brings a 26-11 record into his bout with Tsarukyan. Fighting out of Knuckleheadz MMA, Ferguson stands five-foot-eleven with a 76-inch reach and remains one of the sport's most active offensive fighters, averaging 4.91 significant strikes per minute.

Aaron Pico, 29, is one of the more versatile athletes on the RAF 10 card. The Jackson-Wink MMA product holds a 14-5 record and is a prolific wrestler, averaging an eye-catching 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. The five-foot-eight orthodox fighter will look to impose that wrestling game against Lance Palmer.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's seven-fight RAF schedule this year signals his central role in the promotion's plans
• Chimaev's appearance at RAF 10 marks a high-profile outing for the top-ranked middleweight contender
• The Tsarukyan vs Covington matchup in Milwaukee adds another significant welterweight clash to the RAF 11 card