A former UFC champion has been added to an upcoming RAF promotion card that already features a headline bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington. The event also marks the return of former welterweight contender Ben Askren.
RAF's upcoming card has grown significantly with the addition of a former UFC champion to an event that already boasts Arman Tsarukyan versus Colby Covington at the top of the bill and the long-awaited return of Ben Askren.
Tsarukyan enters the contest as one of the most dangerous lightweights in the world. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-one divisional ranking at lightweight. He lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate and adds 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine threat in every phase of the fight.
Covington, 38, brings a 17-5-0 record and a relentless style built on volume and wrestling. Fighting out of MMA Masters, "Chaos" posts 3.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes. The five-foot-eleven American has long been one of welterweight's most polarising and competitive figures, and the cross-divisional nature of this matchup adds an intriguing dynamic to the headliner.
Askren, nicknamed "Funky," makes his return at 41 years old. The Roufusport product holds a 19-2-0 career record and built his reputation as one of wrestling's most smothering practitioners, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His opponent for the RAF appearance has not been detailed in the announcement.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's top-ranked lightweight status against a welterweight in Covington creates a rare cross-division main event with serious promotional stakes
- Covington's wrestling-heavy approach mirrors Tsarukyan's own grappling capabilities, setting up a compelling tactical battle
- Askren's return at 41 under the RAF banner signals the promotion's ambition to attract high-profile names
