Colby Covington has publicly criticized Arman Tsarukyan, labeling his antics unprofessional. The welterweight contender made his feelings on Tsarukyan's conduct clear in a public statement.
Colby Covington has taken aim at lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, publicly labeling the Armenian-Russian fighter's conduct as unprofessional in a statement that surfaced on June 1, 2026.
Covington, 38, is a welterweight veteran carrying a 17-5 record and a reputation for relentless pressure and volume wrestling. Fighting out of MMA Masters, the American lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, numbers that have made him one of the division's most persistent threats over the past decade. He has never been shy about voicing opinions outside the cage, and his latest comments directed at Tsarukyan follow that well-established pattern.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight in the world, holding a 23-3 record while competing out of American Top Team. The Russian-based fighter is one of the more complete athletes in the 155-pound division, connecting on 50 percent of his significant strikes and adding 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes to his arsenal. His rise to the top of the lightweight rankings has made him a prominent figure in the sport, and that visibility has apparently drawn Covington's attention.
Why it matters
- Covington's criticism puts a welterweight voice into a lightweight conversation, raising questions about the intent behind the callout.
- Tsarukyan's standing as the top-ranked lightweight means any public friction involving him carries divisional weight.
- The contrasting styles — both fighters are high-volume orthodox grapplers with active striking games — would make any hypothetical crossover matchup an intriguing stylistic puzzle.
The specifics of what triggered Covington's remarks were not detailed, but the welterweight contender made his disapproval of Tsarukyan's behavior plain in his public statement.
