A former UFC champion has been added to a RAF event that also features a headline bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington. The card will additionally mark the return of Ben Askren to competitive action.
A former UFC champion has been added to a Real American Fighting (RAF) card that already carries significant weight, with the event set to feature Arman Tsarukyan against Colby Covington in what shapes up as a marquee lightweight contest, alongside the competitive return of Ben Askren.
Tsarukyan enters as one of the sport's most dangerous lightweights. The 29-year-old Russian carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-one divisional ranking at lightweight. Training out of American Top Team, he lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a threat in virtually every phase of a fight.
Covington, 38, brings a 17-5-0 record and a relentless pressure-wrestling style built over years at MMA Masters. The American nicknamed "Chaos" averages 3.81 significant strikes per minute and 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him credible tools to compete with Tsarukyan both on the feet and on the mat. His striking accuracy sits at 38 percent, but his volume and forward movement have historically made him difficult to finish.
Askren's inclusion adds another layer of intrigue to the card. The 41-year-old American, known as "Funky," holds a 19-2-0 record and built his reputation on one of wrestling's most suffocating styles, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and trains out of Roufusport.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's number-one lightweight ranking means a strong performance could strengthen his title position
- Covington's wrestling credentials make him a credible stylistic threat, setting up a potential grappling chess match
- Askren's return at 41 draws attention given his decorated wrestling background and long absence from competition
