Colby Covington Tells Arman Tsarukyan He’s Destined for UFC Lightweight Title
Colby Covington delivered high praise to Arman Tsarukyan immediately after defeating him in a freestyle wrestling match, declaring the UFC lightweight contender will one day claim the division’s championship.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger scored a 5-3 points victory over Tsarukyan at RAF 11 on July 18 in Milwaukee to capture the promotion’s inaugural cruiserweight crossover championship. The result marked Tsarukyan’s first loss under the Real American Freestyle banner.
Speaking afterward on Submission Radio, Covington recounted the message he delivered to his opponent once the contest ended.
“Yeah, I told him, man, unbelievable match, and I, I literally told him, man, you’re gonna be the UFC lightweight champion, I’m so convinced, you know?” Covington said.
He doubled down on that assessment while pointing to Tsarukyan’s skill set.
“Like I’m, I’m so convinced, like no one’s gonna beat him at lightweight, dude, that’s a perfect division,” Covington continued. “Ju-Justin Ducklett, Gaigie has no chance. Just the pace, the, the wrestling, the, the way he mixes it up with everything, no one’s gonna stop him right now, and I, I just felt it, man.”
Covington, who improved to 17-5 in MMA with his most recent UFC outing a December 2024 loss to Joaquin Buckley, described entering the wrestling match with a personal edge. He noted he felt in peak condition and carried motivation from prior experiences, insisting he would have raised his hand against any opponent that night.
Still, the American made clear he recognized Tsarukyan’s quality during their meeting.
“But I, I felt how good Armin was, and I just let him know that I, how much I respected him and, and how much I appreciated the, the opportunity to compete against him,” Covington said.
Tsarukyan currently sits at No. 2 in the official UFC lightweight rankings behind champion Ilia Topuria. The Armenian contender has established himself as one of the division’s most consistent performers, and Covington’s public endorsement adds an unexpected voice of support from outside the weight class.
The crossover wrestling result itself drew attention across combat sports circles, as Covington used strong defensive wrestling and timely scoring to edge a fighter widely regarded for his grappling base. For Covington, the win provided a high-profile platform while he remains outside the UFC’s active welterweight title picture.
Tsarukyan’s next steps in the lightweight division remain the primary focus for fans following the rankings. Covington’s post-match comments reinforce the view that the No. 2 contender possesses the tools to challenge for gold, even after coming up short on the wrestling mats in Milwaukee.
