Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington are officially set to headline the upcoming RAF 11 event, scheduled for July 18th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The highly anticipated wrestling match was confirmed live following Covington’s victory at RAF 09.
This cruiserweight bout will serve as the main event for RAF 11, which will take place at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and be exclusively streamed on FOX Nation. The confirmation follows Covington’s retirement from UFC competition and the mutual interest expressed by both fighters after their recent wins.
Both Tsarukyan and Covington secured victories at RAF 09. Tsarukyan defeated Mugzy via technical fall, extending his undefeated RAF record to 5-0. Covington narrowly defeated former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, bringing his RAF record to 3-0.
Following their respective wins, both fighters publicly called each other out. Tsarukyan declared himself the “number-one MMA wrestler” and vowed to prove it against Covington. Covington responded, interrupting Tsarukyan’s interview and accepting the challenge, promising a legitimate wrestling match.
Covington expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to face Tsarukyan, stating there are “no more excuses” for Tsarukyan to avoid the match. He highlighted his own high-level wrestling credentials and anticipates a significant challenge, aiming to inflict Tsarukyan’s first loss in the RAF promotion.
Tsarukyan has a busy schedule, as he is also slated to compete against Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 on June 13th. That event will also feature Khamzat Chimaev’s RAF debut against Dillon Danis.
The RAF 09 event was headlined by Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, who also made his promotional debut with a dominant victory. The card featured other notable MMA fighters.
Tsarukyan, 29, trains at American Top Team and has a 5-0 record in RAF. Covington, 37, is a former UFC lightweight title challenger with a 3-0 record in RAF. The cruiserweight division is expected to place them at a similar weight, though Covington anticipates a slight size advantage.
This matchup promises to be a significant draw for grappling and MMA crossover fans. The six-week preparation period after their RAF 09 bouts allows both fighters ample time to get ready. With Covington no longer having UFC obligations and Tsarukyan able to focus on wrestling between MMA commitments, the fight is cleared to proceed.