Arman Tsarukyan faces Colby Covington at RAF 11 in Milwaukee showdown

Arman Tsarukyan steps into the cage against Colby Covington at RAF 11 this Saturday in Milwaukee, a lightweight clash that doubles as Covington’s return to action after announcing his UFC retirement in May.

What’s the fight?

Colby Covington collides with Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11 in Milwaukee on 19 July 2025. The bout headlines a stacked card that also features Kamaru Usman’s middleweight return against Dricus du Plessis at UFC on ESPN: Overtime. Covington, 38, left the UFC in May and has since gone undefeated in freestyle wrestling promotion RAF with three straight wins. Tsarukyan, the Armenian lightweight contender, brings a 19-4 MMA record to the mat.

Why this matters for Arman Tsarukyan

For Tsarukyan, the fight is another chance to pad his UFC résumé after back-to-back finishes over Joel Alvarez and Joaquim Silva. A victory would tighten his grip on a top-10 ranking and keep his momentum rolling toward a potential title shot. Covington, meanwhile, carries a welterweight pedigree that looms over 170 lbs, but Tsarukyan has already handled former welterweights like Matt Frevola and Guram Kutateladze.

Covington’s size and strength give him a clear physical edge. At 5’11” and a wrestling base honed in college and the UFC, he’s used to imposing matchups. Tsarukyan, 5’8” and compact, counters with relentless pace and slick top-game entries. Their styles clash: Covington’s pressure versus Tsarukyan’s angles and submission threats.

Covington’s unfinished business

Covington has spent months begging for a trilogy with Kamaru Usman. He still wants that rubber match, whether on the Octagon floor or the RAF mats. “I’ve been begging for that match, man,” Covington told Uncrowned. “There’s this unfinished business.” Usman, 39, returns at middleweight against du Plessis after dropping a majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. Covington questions Usman’s gas tank at 39 but respects his past dominance.

The Covington-Tsarukyan pairing also carries symbolic weight. Covington frames it as a bridge between his UFC legacy and RAF ambitions. Tsarukyan sees it as a stepping stone toward bigger paydays and rankings points. Neither man can afford a loss if they aim for gold in 2026.

What comes next?

If Covington wins, he’ll push for a shot at the RAF lightweight belt. A Tsarukyan victory keeps him in the UFC title conversation and could force Dana White’s hand for a top-tier matchup. The card also features du Plessis, the former middleweight king, in his first fight since losing to Chimaev in August 2024. Covington, ever the provocateur, already declared du Plessis the “true King of Africa” and predicted a quick finish.

For Tsarukyan, the night is about proving he belongs with the division’s elite. For Covington, it’s about carving a new path outside the UFC. Either way, the RAF mats in Milwaukee deliver high-stakes drama on 19 July 2025.