Arman Tsarukyan slams Tony Ferguson twice for tech fall at RAF 10

Arman Tsarukyan shut out Tony Ferguson 10-0 with a pair of body-lock slams Saturday night, winning by technical fall in the RAF 10 co-main event at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.

Tsarukyan scored the finish halfway through the second period after stacking eight points from two four-point throws, per MMA Fighting's live blog. Ferguson, a former UFC interim lightweight champion now wrestling full-time, attempted several takedown entries but never threatened to score. "Tony looks old out there," wrote Jed Meshew on the live blog.

Tsarukyan calls out Covington after second-period finish

The first slam came early when Tsarukyan countered a Ferguson trip attempt, secured a belly-to-belly grip, and lifted him off the mat for the takedown plus back exposure. Ferguson shot a deep single leg late in the opening period but Tsarukyan defended with a crack-down and ran out the clock. The second period lasted less than a minute. Tsarukyan locked the body again, hoisted Ferguson high despite a guillotine defense, and drove him to the mat for four more points and the tech fall.

Afterward, Tsarukyan threw his wrestling shoes into the crowd and faced off with Colby Covington, who he meets at RAF 12 on July 18 in Milwaukee. "It's going to be easier than Tony Ferguson. This is the easiest money. I'm going to do 10-0 in the first round," Tsarukyan told the crowd, as reported by MMA Fighting's Damon Martin. Covington, an All-American with a 2-0 RAF record over Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman, responded that there would be no more cupcake matchups and promised to break Tsarukyan on the mat.

Tsarukyan has competed in five consecutive RAF events while awaiting his shot at the UFC lightweight title. Ferguson retired from MMA after eight straight losses, then won two Misfits Boxing bouts before returning to wrestling, where he was an NCWA national champion.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — RAF 10 video: Arman Tsarukyan slams Tony Ferguson twice before winning tech fall victory
• MMA Fighting — RAF 10 live blog: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Tony Ferguson