Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington trade barbs at RAF 11 faceoff

Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington squared off in a fiery faceoff Friday night at RAF 11 in Milwaukee, trading barbs and handshakes before their wrestling crossover bout.

What happened at the RAF 11 faceoff?

The two UFC stars met at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena for a pre-match faceoff that mixed trash talk with fleeting moments of banter. Tsarukyan and Covington shook hands before and after their face-to-face, a rare moment of civility from the latter. Their exchange at the Friday press conference and the faceoff itself set the tone for Saturday’s main event.

Why it matters for Arman Tsarukyan

For Tsarukyan, the crossover to wrestling mats marks another step outside his usual UFC octagon. The Armenian star’s willingness to engage-even briefly-with Covington’s notoriously combative persona shows a calculated approach ahead of the match. The handshake and fleeting banter hint at a rivalry that could fuel future UFC storylines.

What comes next for the two stars?

RAF 11 streams live on Fox Nation Saturday, with Tsarukyan and Covington set to face off on the wrestling mats. The crossover bout adds a fresh layer to their rivalry, blending MMA intensity with a different combat discipline. Fans will watch closely to see if the faceoff’s odd camaraderie survives the mat action.

How the faceoff played out in real time

Despite Covington’s reputation for antagonism, Tsarukyan found himself in the crossfire of trash talk during the faceoff. The two exchanged words over clothing and other jabs, a contrast to the UFC’s usual pre-fight hostility. The full video of their exchange captured the mix of tension and fleeting humor before the match.