Covington edges Weidman at RAF 9 and immediately calls out Tsarukyan for July

Colby Covington defeated Chris Weidman 5-4 at RAF 9, securing the win on a passivity point in the closing seconds before immediately calling out Arman Tsarukyan for a July 18 showdown at RAF 11 in Milwaukee.

Covington, giving up considerable size to the former UFC middleweight champion and two-time collegiate All-American wrestler, relied on speed and technical grappling to stay ahead. Weidman opened the scoring with a quick throw, but was unable to convert it into additional points. Covington responded with a pair of single-leg takedowns that put him in front, and when Weidman failed to score during a shot-clock sequence late in the match, the referee awarded Covington an additional passivity point to make it 5-4. Weidman mounted two desperate takedown attempts in the final 30 seconds, but Covington sprawled clear as time expired.

The win extended Covington’s unbeaten RAF record to 3-0, a notable achievement given the wrestling pedigree of his opponent.

With the match barely over, Covington turned his attention to Tsarukyan, who had won his own bout earlier in the evening. “Arman, you’re a spoiled little brat,” Covington said. “Gas up your daddy’s jet and bring that little jezebel Nina Drama and I’ll see you in Milwaukee on July 18.”

Tsarukyan, watching from ringside, came to the stage to respond and accepted the challenge without hesitation. “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 agreement sets up what could be the most high-profile match in RAF history, pitting two fighters with significant UFC name recognition against each other in a grappling format.