RAF 11: Tsarukyan vs. Covington was a freestyle wrestling event produced by the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion that took place on July 18, 2026, at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Background

The event featured the introduction of the promotion's new RAF Crossover Cruiserweight Championship, a symbolic special attraction title created for athletes crossing over from other sports to compete on the RAF mats. The inaugural bout saw former interim UFC Welterweight Champion Colby Covington face undefeated contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Former Bellator Welterweight Champion and former ONE Welterweight Champion Ben Askren, a two-time NCAA Division I national champion who nearly died from pneumonia in 2025, faced former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event.

A RAF Women's Strawweight Champion bout between Lucía Yépez and Felicity Taylor took place at the event. On June 23, for undisclosed reasons, inaugural champion, 2024 Summer Olympics gold medalist and seven-time Pan American Wrestling Championships gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt was stripped off her title and Yépez was promoted to undisputed champion.

RAF Bantamweight Champion Austin DeSanto was scheduled defend his title against Ben Davino. However, for undisclosed reasons, DeSanto withdrew from the match and was replaced by Arsen Harutyunyan.

Results

Main card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
CruiserweightUnited States Colby Covingtondef.Armenia Arman TsarukyanDecision (5–3)32:00
CruiserweightPalestine Belal Muhammaddef.United States Ben AskrenDecision (6–3)32:00
Catchweight (159 lb)United States Frankie Edgardef.United States Clay GuidaDecision (9–1)32:00
MiddleweightUnited States Keegan O'Tooledef.United States Christopher MintoDecision (14–9)32:00
Women's CruiserweightUnited States Adeline Graydef.United States Skylar GroteDecision (5–2)32:00
BantamweightArmenia Arsen Harutyunyandef.United States Ben DavinoDecision (6–5)32:00
Light HeavyweightUnited States Trent Hidlaydef.Russia Magomedkhan MagomedovTechnical fall (10–0)30:12
CruiserweightRussia Magomed Ramazanovdef.United States Aeoden SinclairDecision (5–3)32:00
Light HeavyweightUnited States Zac Braunageldef.United States Pat DowneyTechnical fall (12–2)21:15
HeavyweightUnited States Anthony Cassioppidef.Egypt Mostafa EldersDecision (6–2)32:00
WelterweightUnited States Michael Caliendodef.Tajikistan Mirzo KhayitovDecision (9–2)32:00
Women's StrawweightEcuador Lucía Yépez (c)def.United States Felicity TaylorTechnical fall (10–0)21:10

Bonus awards

The following athletes received bonuses.

  • Match of the Night: Colby Covington vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Belal Muhammad vs. Ben Askren
  • Performance of the Night: Trent Hidlay

See also

  • List of RAF events

External links