Covington Beats Tsarukyan At RAF 11

Arman Tsarukyan's unbeaten run in Real American Freestyle is over after Colby Covington ended it at RAF 11.

Covington's wrestling pedigree proved the decisive factor across three periods. He entered the main event 3-0 in RAF with technical fall victories over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis, and a 5-4 decision over Chris Weidman at RAF 09 in May.

Tsarukyan opened with a front headlock in the early stages, but Covington's defence neutralised it and cost Tsarukyan position. The shot clock punished Tsarukyan's passivity and gave Covington his first point.

The second period went to Tsarukyan — he secured a takedown for two points — but Covington responded emphatically in the closing seconds, sprawling on a Tsarukyan attempt and flattening him on his stomach to score another two points. Entering the final period, Covington led 5-2.

Tsarukyan pushed hard in the third. With the clock winding down, he went for a takedown that could have changed everything. Covington sprawled. The whistle reset the position. Tsarukyan shot again in the final seconds. Covington sprawled again, as Covington won by decision.

Covington used the post-match platform to name his next targets. He called out Khamzat Chimaev, Belal Muhammad, and Tyron Woodley. Tsarukyan will be back. The question is whether Covington, now the cruiserweight champion, gives him a shot at the rematch.