UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has revealed when he hopes to take part in a grappling match in RAF with former UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington.
Arman Tsarukyan says he would be open to facing Colby Covington in a RAF grappling match on May 30, potentially setting up a crossover event that would draw attention well beyond the UFC fan base. The matchup would not be an MMA fight, but Tsarukyan clearly sees commercial upside in sharing the mat with one of the sport’s most polarizing talkers.
Speaking about the possibility, Tsarukyan said that a May 30 date works for him if an offer comes together for a match with Covington. He framed it as a major opportunity and suggested the matchup would sell itself because of Covington’s tendency to trash-talk, adding that he would not stay quiet in return.
For Tsarukyan, even a side event like this would keep his name active while the UFC lightweight division continues to sort out its next title picture. He has already established himself as one of the most dangerous wrestlers at 155 pounds, and any high-profile appearance helps him stay in the conversation for a future marquee bout. Covington, meanwhile, has spent long stretches on the sidelines, so attaching himself to a recognizable name in another weight class would be one way to get attention again.
There is also an obvious fan-interest angle here for the American market. Covington remains one of the most divisive personalities in the sport, and that alone guarantees social media traction. Pair that with Tsarukyan’s aggressive style and willingness to talk back, and and it becomes an easy sell as a crossover attraction, even if it falls outside the standard UFC structure.
Tsarukyan’s comment does not confirm that anything is finalized, but it does put a date on the kind of event he would welcome. If momentum builds, expect the matchup to gain traction quickly because it offers exactly what fight fans want: name value, tension, and two athletes with very different brands of chaos.
