Colby Covington Wants Arman Tsarukyan Before Ilia Topuria Fight
Colby Covington is once again trying to insert himself into a major UFC conversation.
The former UFC interim welterweight champion recently said he wants to face Arman Tsarukyan before Tsarukyan gets a chance to fight Ilia Topuria. In classic Colby fashion, the message was sharp and dismissive.
“I just wanna get Arman before he gets exposed against Ilia,” Covington said.
It is a bold callout because Arman is one of the most dangerous names around the lightweight title picture, while Topuria has become one of the UFC’s biggest rising stars. But Covington seems to believe Arman’s hype may not last once he faces elite opposition.
Colby Covington Is Looking for a Big Name
Covington has always understood the value of attaching his name to major fighters.
Whether fans love him or hate him, Colby knows how to stay in the conversation. Calling out Arman gives him a fresh storyline, especially because Arman is connected to major lightweight title talks.
For Colby, this type of matchup would bring attention. Arman has momentum, respect from hardcore fans, and a fighting style built around pressure, wrestling, and physicality. If Covington could beat him, it would be a major statement.
But making the fight would not be simple.
Arman Tsarukyan Is Not an Easy Fight
Covington’s comment suggests that Arman may be overrated, but inside the cage, Tsarukyan is far from easy work.
Arman is strong, aggressive, and well-rounded. He can wrestle, scramble, strike with power, and push a high pace. His game is built on pressure and control, which could create an interesting clash with Colby’s own cardio-heavy style.
Both fighters like to pressure opponents. Both can wrestle. Both are comfortable making fights gritty.
That is why, on paper, the matchup could be more competitive than Colby’s trash talk makes it sound.
The Ilia Topuria Angle Makes It More Interesting
The real spice in Covington’s comment is the Ilia Topuria part.
By saying he wants Arman before he gets “exposed” by Ilia, Colby is also giving Topuria credit. He seems to believe Topuria would beat Arman and damage his reputation before Colby gets the chance.
Topuria brings a very different threat than Colby. He is explosive, confident, powerful, and dangerous in boxing exchanges. A fight between Topuria and Tsarukyan would likely come down to whether Arman could control him with wrestling or whether Topuria could punish him on the feet.
Colby is using that possible fight to create his own opening.
Is This Realistic?
The biggest question is whether Covington vs Tsarukyan actually makes sense.
Colby has spent most of his UFC career at welterweight, while Arman is known as a lightweight contender. That makes the weight situation complicated. Unless one fighter moves up or they meet at a catchweight, the matchup would be difficult to book.
Still, in modern UFC, big-name callouts can sometimes create unexpected opportunities. If the promotion sees enough attention around the fight, anything can become a conversation.
Final Thoughts
Colby Covington saying he wants Arman Tsarukyan before Arman fights Ilia Topuria is classic Colby: bold, dismissive, and designed to get attention.
Arman is not an easy opponent, and Topuria is not a simple matchup either. But Covington’s comment has added another layer to the lightweight and welterweight crossover discussion.
Whether the fight is realistic or just another Colby callout, one thing is clear: Covington still knows how to make people talk.
