Colby Covington criticized Arman Tsarukyan for his conduct in wrestling, including throwing Urijah Faber off the mat and engaging in mat fights. Covington said he wants to bring Tsarukyan in line and teach him a lesson. He stated Tsarukyan cannot come to America and disrespect Americans.
Colby Covington has set his sights on lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, publicly calling out the Russian fighter over what he described as disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior on the wrestling mat.
Covington, 38, took particular issue with an incident involving veteran Urijah Faber, claiming Tsarukyan threw Faber off the mat during a wrestling session and engaged in mat fights. Covington made clear he intends to be the one to bring Tsarukyan in line, stating the Armenian-born Russian fighter cannot come to America and disrespect Americans. At 17-5-0, Covington remains one of the more decorated welterweights of his era, known for relentless volume and an elite wrestling base. He averages 3.81 significant strikes per minute and 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete grapplers in the sport.
Faber, the 47-year-old Team Alpha Male legend who carries a 35-11-0 professional record, was reportedly on the receiving end of the incident that sparked Covington's outrage. The five-foot-six former WEC champion has long been a respected figure in American MMA, and Covington framed the episode as a slight against the broader American combat sports community.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters this war of words as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC, carrying a 23-3-0 record and legitimately elite numbers across the board. The five-foot-seven Russian averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and backs it up with 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. He trains out of American Top Team, which adds an ironic layer to Covington's patriotism-driven criticism.
Why it matters
- Covington is calling out a top-ranked lightweight, signaling a potential cross-divisional or emerging rivalry
- The conduct allegations center on a wrestling incident involving a beloved American veteran in Faber
- Tsarukyan is ranked first in a stacked lightweight division, making any feud surrounding him high-profile by default
