ARLINGTON, Texas – Arman Tsarukyan is a busy man. He just finished competing in his fifth Real American Freestyle wrestling match, and he’s already got his sith one booked.
Tsarukyan, considered the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, picked up another win under the RAF banner, defeating Keelon Jimison, better known as “Gugzy,” this past Saturday at the promotion’s 9th event. After the event, the promotion announced that Tsarukyan will take on former UFC interim champion Colby Covington in the main event of RAF 11 on July 18.
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Tsarukyan already had his sight on Covington. After his match, right before the announcement of their match, Tsarukyan had singled out Covington, along with another name that calls his attention.
“Tony Ferguson is a big name,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters when discussing his future with RAF. “When I was starting my UFC career, he was already a legend and already fighting for the belt. A lot of people know him in Russia and Armenia. He’s so popular. It’s good to have Tony Ferguson on my list, and of course, Colby Covington. He’s focusing on wrestling; he has a big name, and he thinks he’s the best MMA wrestler, but I disagree, and I want to show I’m the best here.”
Tsarukyan hasn’t competed in MMA since stopping Dan Hooker at a UFC Fight Night event in November. He’s been waiting these last six months for the UFC lightweight title picture to get sorted. Tsarukyan first had to wait for the Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett interim title fight to play out in January, and now he awaits for Gaethje, who beat Pimblett, to unify the belt against champion Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom Fights 250 in June.
Competing in RAF has been Tsarukyan’s primary way to keep busy and make money competing – which he is grateful for.
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“As a UFC fighter, you can’t compete so often – two times a year, three times a year,” Tsarukyan said. “If it’s not RAF, I would train with my guys six, seven rounds with no crowd or no money. Is better to come here and show up, get some experience, have fun and wrestle. It’s the best for the MMA fighters and wrestlers. I’m so happy that they created such a good league.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arman Tsarukyan: Colby Covington not the best MMA wrestler at RAF
