ARLINGTON, Texas – Colby Covington, one of the more controversial figures in modern MMA, isn’t a fan of what he’s seen from Arman Tsarukyan.
Covington, who’s set to face Tsarukyan in a RAF wrestling match on July 18, believes the UFC lightweight contender has crossed the line too many times, and sees it as his duty to humble Tsarukyan through competition. Covington is no stranger to controversy, as he’s made headlines and built grudge matches throughout his UFC career using racist and bigoted comments, often blurring the line between fight promotion and outright bigotry.
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Tsarukyan doesn’t fall in that same lane, but he has been involved in his fair share of altercations. The Armenian might have a clean record with his comments, but he’s been physical outside competition, including punching a fan during one of his walkouts to a UFC fight, and headbutting and allegedly fracturing Dan Hooker’s nose during a pre-fight staredown, among other things.
Covington takes issue with Tsarukyan’s behavior, which has fueled him ahead of their wrestling match.
“I just don’t like his antics,” Covington said at the RAF 09 post-fight press conference. “Throwing Urijah Faber, a legend of the sport, off the stage; brawling with guys on the wrestling mat. That’s not professional. That’s not how we act in the wrestling world. That’s not the culture of wrestling, so I want to set him straight. I want to teach him a lesson. You don’t come to America and, on American soil, disrespect us Americans. Now he’s going to have to face one of the greatest Americans that there is in the wrestling world. I plan on dunking him and giving him a wedgie like the little nerd that he is.”
Colby Covington, who improved his RAF record to 3-0 with a win over Chris Weidman this past Saturday, is confident he’ll be Tsarukyan’s first RAF defeat. Tsarukyan has gone 5-0 since joining RAF in January, but has yet to face someone with the wrestling accolades of Covington.
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“Absolutely, he’s been going against guys who are a lot smaller than him,” Covington said when asked if he sees himself as Tsarukyan’s toughest test. “Urijah was 20, 30 pounds smaller than him. He hasn’t wrestled at a high, All-American level like myself. I’m the one who’s around the same size as him. I might have 10 pounds on him, but we’re similar in size. He’s been going up against guys who are a lot smaller than him and don’t have the same wrestling credentials as me. I’m going to be a real challenge and can’t wait to give him his first loss in RAF.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Colby Covington: Arman Tsarukyan’s antics ‘not professional’
