Three Events, Five Weeks, Zero Title Shots. Tsarukyan vs Covington Is Set

Arman Tsarukyan is the #2 ranked lightweight in the UFC. He can't get a title fight. He can't even get on the White House card as anything more than a backup. But the man has somehow managed to book himself into three separate events across five weeks this summer while the promotion that employs him watches from the sideline.

June 13: Tony Ferguson at RAF 10. June 14: Backup fighter for the White House main event (not actually fighting, just standing by in case someone gets hurt). July 18: Colby Covington at RAF 11 in Milwaukee.

The busiest man in combat sports isn't busy in the UFC but he's busy everywhere else.

Last Night at RAF 09

Tsarukyan opened the main card at RAF 09 in Arlington, Texas last night and smoked a guy named Mugzy by technical fall in the first round. 16-5. Wasn't close. The #2 lightweight in the world wrestling on a Fox Nation card against a guy most MMA fans have never heard of because that's the only mat time he can get right now.

He's 5-0 in RAF. Five matches. Five wins. All dominant. And after every single one he grabs the mic and makes the same point. He's the best wrestler in MMA and nobody will give him a real fight.

Last night after the Mugzy win he called out Covington immediately. "We got tonight Colby Covington. I hope he is going to win. I'm gonna whoop his a**."

Covington was in the co-main against Chris Weidman. Won 5-4 in a tight match. Improved to 3-0 in RAF with previous wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. And the second his hand was raised, he turned to the camera and did what Colby always does.

"Arman, you're a spoiled little brat. You've been talking the talk, now let's see if you can walk the walk. Gas up your daddy's jet, bring that little jezebel Nina Drama, and I'll see you in Milwaukee on July 18."

Tsarukyan walked to the stage and fired back. "Colby, today you looked so bad. When we're gonna wrestle, be ready because I don't want easy money. I want a legit wrestling match with you."

RAF confirmed the match on the spot. Cruiserweight. Headliner. UWM Panther Arena. Fox Nation. July 18.

Covington Retired From the UFC to Make This Happen

Here's the detail most people are going to miss.

The reason this match couldn't happen before is because both Tsarukyan and Covington were active UFC fighters. There's an unspoken rule in RAF that active UFC fighters can't face each other on the wrestling mat. The promotions have a relationship and neither wants to burn it by booking UFC vs UFC matchups outside the Octagon.

So Covington's solution? He retired from MMA.

The former interim welterweight champion who fought Kamaru Usman twice and Leon Edwards once for the undisputed belt officially hung up the gloves. 17-5 career. Three title shots. And he walked away from the sport specifically so he could wrestle Tsarukyan on a Fox Nation card in Milwaukee.

Whether Covington was done with MMA anyway is a fair question. He hasn't fought in the UFC in over a year. His last relevant MMA moment was losing to Leon Edwards. The retirement might have been coming regardless. But the timing is clearly tied to this match. He retired so the fight could happen. Say what you want about Colby but that's a commitment to the bit.

The Bigger Picture on Arman

Okay here's where I need to explain a bit because the Covington match is entertaining but the real story is what Arman's schedule tells you about his situation in the UFC.

The man is the #2 ranked lightweight on the planet. Behind only Topuria. He's been calling for a title shot for over a year. The UFC made him the "official backup" for the White House main event which basically means "sit by your phone in case Topuria or Gaethje gets hurt and we need you."

That ain't a fight. That's a participation trophy.

So what does Arman do? He goes to RAF. He wrestles. He wins. He keeps his name in the conversation. He fights Tony Ferguson on June 13, literally the day before the White House card he's backing up. Then he fights Covington on July 18, a week after UFC 329.

Five RAF wins. Ferguson on deck. Covington after that. Meanwhile the UFC has him standing backstage at the White House hoping somebody pulls out.

The frustration has been building all year. We've been covering it. The man attacked Georgio Poullas after a RAF win because the emotions boiled over. He jumped a barrier backstage at the Netflix card. He's doing everything possible to stay active and relevant while the UFC treats him like a backup plan instead of a legitimate contender.

And honestly the Covington match might be the smartest thing he's done yet. Not because Covington is a real test at this point. But because the Covington NAME still generates attention. Casuals know Colby. The trash talk writes itself. The face-off last night is already trending. And when Arman dominates him on the mat (because he will), it's another highlight reel moment that the UFC can't ignore.

The Wrestling Credentials

For anyone wondering whether this match is actually competitive, here's the breakdown.

Covington's wrestling resume is real. NCAA Division I All-American at Oregon State. Two time Pac-10 champion at 174 pounds. 2007 NJCAA national champion at Iowa Central. 2013 no-gi grappling world champion. The man can wrestle. That's never been the question with Colby.

But Tsarukyan is different. His wrestling in MMA is suffocating. He's outwrestled guys at lightweight who were supposed to be the better grapplers. His top pressure, his scrambles, his ability to chain takedowns together is elite. And in RAF he's been ragdolling people who outweigh him.

Covington at cruiserweight against Tsarukyan at cruiserweight is going to be closer than the MMA twitter crowd thinks. Colby's base is legitimate and he's not going to get tech falled in the first round like Mugzy. But over the full match, Arman's pace and explosiveness should take over.

I'm picking Tsarukyan. Probably by tech fall in the second or third period. But I wouldn't be shocked if Covington makes it competitive because his wrestling fundamentals are actually elite even if his MMA career ended with a whimper.

What Arman Actually Wants

Tsarukyan said it himself after the Mugzy win. "The number one MMA wrestler is me and I'm gonna show everybody who is the best MMA wrestler on this mat."

He's not wrestling for fun. He's wrestling to prove a point. Every RAF match is a statement to the UFC. Every tech fall is a reminder that the #2 lightweight in the world is available, active, and dominant while the promotion sits on its hands.

Ferguson on June 13. White House backup on June 14. Covington on July 18. Three events in five weeks. All because the UFC won't give him the one fight he actually wants.

The busiest man in combat sports isn't busy by choice. He's busy because the alternative is sitting at home waiting for a phone call that never comes.

Thanks for riding with CageLore. Stay locked in!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Tsarukyan vs Covington?

July 18, 2026 at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The match headlines RAF 11 at cruiserweight and streams exclusively on Fox Nation.

Why did Covington retire from the UFC?

Covington retired from MMA specifically to remove the restriction preventing active UFC fighters from facing each other in RAF. With Covington officially retired, the promotional conflict no longer applies and the match was booked immediately after RAF 09.

What is Tsarukyan's RAF record?

Tsarukyan is 5-0 in RAF wrestling with all dominant performances. His most recent win was a 16-5 technical fall over Mugzy at RAF 09 on May 30, 2026.

What is Covington's RAF record?

Covington is 3-0 in RAF with wins over Luke Rockhold, Dillon Danis, and Chris Weidman. His most recent win was a close 5-4 decision over Weidman at RAF 09.

Does Tsarukyan have other fights booked?

Yes. Tsarukyan wrestles Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 on June 13 and serves as the official backup for the UFC Freedom 250 main event on June 14. The Covington match on July 18 would be his third event in five weeks.

What did Covington say to Tsarukyan?

Covington called Tsarukyan "a spoiled little brat" and told him to "gas up your daddy's jet, bring that little jezebel Nina Drama, and I'll see you in Milwaukee on July 18." Tsarukyan fired back calling Covington's performance "so bad" and saying he wants "a legit wrestling match."