“Olympic Level” Arman? Kurt Angle Breaks Down Tsarukyan vs. Covington Matchup

Olympic gold medalist and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle foresees a fiercely competitive wrestling contest if Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington were to face off on the RAF mats following RAF 07. His perspective combines decades of elite wrestling expertise with a current assessment of both athletes' forms in 2026.

Kurt Angle’s view on Arman Tsarukyan vs. Colby Covington

Speaking backstage at RAF 07, Angle expressed admiration for Tsarukyan's significant progress in wrestling, especially given his non-traditional background in the sport. He characterized a potential Tsarukyan–Covington encounter as a closely fought battle rather than a dominant performance by one side.

“Colby Covington is a very formidable wrestler, and I believe Arman Tsarukyan — he only wrestled as a child, primarily to enhance his MMA skills. So it's quite remarkable to see him perform this well with such limited wrestling experience. I anticipate a very close match. I won't say Colby will dominate. I think it will be a highly competitive match. Arman Tsarukyan is truly exceptional. He could literally enter Olympic wrestling right now and achieve great success.”

Angle's remarks were made just minutes after both fighters secured victories at RAF 07.

RAF 07 context for the callout

RAF 07, held at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, featured both Tsarukyan and Covington in prominent wrestling matches. Tsarukyan defeated Georgio Poullas 9–3 in their wrestling rematch, securing the main event with a four-point throw late in the bout. This result followed their intense initial confrontation, which included a tackle and a stage brawl at a previous RAF event, necessitating a rematch under stricter regulations.

On the same card, Covington triumphed over Dillon Danis by technical fall, 14–4, in a 200-pound catchweight contest. He relied on his relentless pace, chain attacks, and superior top control to build a significant lead on the scoreboard. After both men had their hands raised, cameras captured Tsarukyan and Covington exchanging words at close quarters, requiring security and officials to intervene as they debated who had been the night's superior wrestler.

Tsarukyan’s fast-track wrestling rise

Tsarukyan is primarily recognized as a top UFC lightweight contender, holding a position near the top of his division and within the promotion’s pound-for-pound top 15 in early 2026. What makes Angle's commendation particularly noteworthy is Tsarukyan’s own admission that he ceased wrestling as a child and dedicated most of his youth to ice hockey before transitioning to MMA. He has stated that he wrestled from ages 6 to 9, then played hockey from 9 to 17, before returning to combat sports.

Despite this extended break, Tsarukyan has successfully re-engaged with freestyle wrestling under the RAF banner. He made his series debut at RAF 05, securing a 10–0 technical fall over Lance Palmer in the first period. He then narrowly defeated Poullas 5–3 at RAF 06 before significantly extending his lead in their RAF 07 rematch. This recent performance, combined with his strong MMA clinch and scrambling abilities, forms the basis for Angle's belief that Tsarukyan possesses the skill to compete at an Olympic level today.

Colby Covington’s collegiate base and RAF form

Covington brings a more conventional wrestling background to the potential matchup. At Oregon State, he competed at 174 pounds, earned All-America honors at the 2011 NCAA Championships, and achieved a 40–7 junior season record, including 15 pins and a 20–1 dual-meet record. In MMA, this solid foundation translated into a relentless, takedown-heavy style that propelled him to multiple UFC welterweight title opportunities.

His victory over Danis at RAF 07 served as a clear reminder of his wrestling roots. Covington scored frequently and decisively, building a 10-point advantage that forced the technical fall and subsequently prompted Tsarukyan to call him out both verbally and in post-event media. Angle’s assessment of Covington as a “very tough wrestler” acknowledges both his extensive collegiate track record and his sharp performance in the Danis match.

Despite Covington’s long collegiate background and recent RAF 07 technical fall, Angle refrains from predicting a dominant outcome for him. For Angle, the potential matchup hinges on timing, pace, and how Tsarukyan’s rapidly improving, unorthodox wrestling style would contend with Covington’s established college-system approach.