Colby Covington Stuns Arman Tsarukyan With Shocking First Round Finish
By 813 Staff
In a development that changes the playoff picture, Colby Covington Stuns Arman Tsarukyan With Shocking First Round Finish, according to Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) (on July 19, 2026).
Source: https://x.com/Home_of_Fight/status/2078682001612128547
The silence in the locker room was the first clue. Before the official result hit the scrolling ticker, before the UFC social media team could even draft the graphic, guys were already staring at their phones with that “you’ve got to be kidding me” look. League sources confirm the reaction was immediate and visceral. Colby Covington, the polarizing welterweight gatekeeper who had been written off by half the division, just submitted Arman Tsarukyan in a submission grappling match under the Real Action Fighting banner. The match, which took place late Saturday night in Las Vegas, was broadcast on a pay-per-view stream that most fans didn’t even know existed until the finish went viral.
Let’s be clear about what happened here. Covington, a 38-year-old former interim champion known primarily for his wrestling-heavy pressure and cardio, caught Tsarukyan—a top-five lightweight contender in his prime—in a rear-naked choke that forced the tap. Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) broke the footage, and within minutes, the MMA world was trying to figure out what this actually means. Those close to the situation say Covington had been quietly training no-gi grappling for months, telling his camp he wanted to prove the doubters wrong. The front office at Real Action Fighting has been quietly building a roster of UFC castoffs and veterans looking for a different kind of spotlight, and this win is their biggest headline yet.
Why it matters: Tsarukyan is a legitimate threat in the UFC’s lightweight division, currently ranked inside the top five. He’s a high-level grappler who has never been submitted in professional MMA. Covington, meanwhile, hasn’t won a fight inside the Octagon since 2022. This wasn’t an MMA fight—no strikes, no rounds, just pure grappling—but perception is reality in this sport. A win like this changes the leverage. Covington can now walk into any negotiation with a full highlight reel of him choking out a younger, higher-ranked fighter.
As for what happens next: don’t expect Covington to suddenly jump back into UFC title contention. Those close to the situation say he’s more likely to field offers from other grappling promotions or seek a rematch in the cage. Tsarukyan’s team has already gone quiet, which tells you everything you need to know. The front office in the UFC hasn’t commented yet, but don’t be surprised if this name pops up in a contract dispute or a callout within the next 48 hours. For now, the tape speaks for itself.
Source: https://x.com/Home_of_Fight/status/2078682001612128547
