Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington now have a date, a city, and a mat for the wrestling match RAF has been building toward for months. After Tsarukyan ran through Mugzy at RAF 9 and Covington edged Chris Weidman later on the same card, RAF officials made Tsarukyan vs. Covington official as the RAF 11 main event on July 18 at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee.
The matchup has real wrestling value. Tsarukyan is a top UFC lightweight contender with a 23-3 MMA record, a strong freestyle base, and a game built around pressure, scrambles, and making opponents work every second. Covington is 17-5 in MMA, a former interim UFC welterweight champion, and a legitimate wrestling credential guy after becoming an NCAA Division I All-American at Oregon State.
Tsarukyan had to eat one scary moment against Mugzy in Dallas, but the danger window did not stay open long. Mugzy hit a four-point throw early, then Tsarukyan answered with a takedown and a chain of turns that pushed the score to 16-5 for the technical fall. Afterward, he went straight at Covington, who was still scheduled to face Weidman later that night.
“I feel great,” Tsarukyan said after the win. “I knew I’m going to win. I’ve got to give a little bit to these guys. Shout out to Mugzy. Thank you for coming.
“We’ve got tonight Colby Covington, I hope he’s going to win and I’m going to whoop his ass. I’m going to show who is the best MMA wrestler on the mats.”
Here is the announcement that followed the RAF 9 callouts:
🚨 BREAKING: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Colby Covington has been officially booked for RAF 11 on July 18th.
(via RAF Broadcast) pic.twitter.com/93TP8KMOId
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 31, 2026
Covington Survives Weidman, Then Locks In Tsarukyan
Covington had to earn his spot in this fight. Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion and two-time collegiate All-American, brought size and real wrestling experience into their RAF 9 match. Covington still found enough single-leg entries, late defense, and activity to escape with a 5-4 win after Weidman failed to score on the shot clock.
Once the match ended, Covington immediately turned the night into a promo for July 18.
“Arman, you’re a spoiled little brat,” Covington shouted. “Gas up your daddy’s jet and bring that little jezebel Nina Drama and I’ll see you in Milwaukee on July 18!”
Tsarukyan, who was watching nearby, kept the reply short and disrespectful.
“Colby, today you looked so bad,” Tsarukyan said. “When we’re going to wrestle, be ready because I don’t want to have easy money.”
The matchup gives RAF a real competitive hook. Tsarukyan is unbeaten in RAF at 5-0 and has already been booked to face Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 before the Covington showdown. Covington moved to 3-0 in RAF with the Weidman win, and his recent shift toward wrestling has made this bout possible after UFC officials had not publicly committed to allowing active fighters to face each other in RAF.
Tsarukyan has become one of RAF’s key names, and his athletic edge has shown up in every match. Covington is older, but his best weapon was never flash. It was pace, position, and forcing opponents into ugly minutes where technique starts leaking under fatigue.
For Tsarukyan, beating Covington would strengthen the idea that his wrestling translates against credentialed specialists, not only MMA names crossing over for one-off matches. For Covington, beating Tsarukyan would give his RAF run a real signature win and keep him loud in combat sports after stepping away from active UFC competition.
RAF 11 now has the kind of main event that works on both levels. The trash talk is built in, and the wrestling credentials are strong enough to carry the matchup. Tsarukyan brings speed and momentum. Covington brings credentials and cardio. Milwaukee gets the test.
