Covington retires from UFC to face Tsarukyan at RAF 11 after Weidman win

Colby Covington will face Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of RAF 11 in Milwaukee on July 18, a match he wanted badly enough to announce his retirement from the UFC to make happen. The bout was confirmed after Covington defeated former UFC champion and two-time All-American wrestler Chris Weidman 5-4 at RAF 9 on Saturday.

The UFC had reportedly barred active fighters from competing against one another in wrestling matches, leaving Covington with a choice: stay on the UFC roster or pursue the Tsarukyan showdown. He chose the latter, informing the promotion he was ending his MMA career in order to remain active with RAF.

Covington’s motivation, however, runs deeper than simply securing a marquee match. Speaking at the RAF 9 post-match press conference, he cited a series of incidents involving Tsarukyan since the UFC lightweight’s arrival in the wrestling promotion.

“He’s just a fiery young man,” Covington said. “I just don’t like his antics. Throwing Urijah Faber, a legend of the sport, off the stage. Brawling with guys on the wrestling mat. That’s not professional. That’s not how we act in the wrestling world. That’s not the culture of wrestling. I want to set him straight. I want to teach him a lesson. You don’t come to American soil and disrespect us Americans. Now he’s going to have to face one of the greatest Americans that there is in the wrestling world. I plan on dunking him and giving him a wedgie like the little nerd that he is.”

The incidents Covington referenced are well documented. Tsarukyan punched Georgio Poullas after their first match, triggering a brawl on stage that required security intervention. Separately, a takedown attempt by Tsarukyan sent Urijah Faber off the stage in a moment that fortunately caused no serious injuries.

Tsarukyan’s RAF record, while unbeaten, has drawn scrutiny for the level of competition he has faced. His wins include two matches against Poullas, victories over Faber and Lance Palmer — both of whom conceded significant size — and a tech-fall dismissal of social media influencer Mugzy at RAF 9.

Covington is aware that Tsarukyan will be stepping up considerably in class when they meet in July. “I didn’t get to see Arman’s performance,” he said after his Weidman match. “I was just focusing on my match. I knew I had a dog fight in store. That’s a two-time All-American, former world champion in the UFC, one of the greatest guys. He had 20, 30 pounds on me tonight as you could see out there.” Covington’s point was implicit: if he could handle that size disadvantage against Weidman, Tsarukyan’s winning streak faces its sternest examination yet come July 18.