Overview
- The RAF 11 card took place Saturday in Milwaukee and was headlined by Arman Tsarukyan vs. Colby Covington for Real American Freestyle’s inaugural crossover championship on FOX Nation.
- Tsarukyan entered the match unbeaten in RAF competition in 2026, carrying a 7-0 record with multiple recent appearances used to keep him active while he awaited a UFC title shot.
- Before and during RAF 11 week Tsarukyan said he is flying to Las Vegas to sign a UFC fight contract he described as already having a date and opponent pending signatures, indicating an expected return to the Octagon later this year.
- The card also featured Ben Askren’s return roughly a year after his 2025 double-lung transplant with a cruiserweight bout against Belal Muhammad, underscoring RAF’s use of high-profile MMA names to draw attention.
- UFC president Dana White credited Tsarukyan’s social media work for boosting his profile and Tsarukyan has additionally raised his public profile by voicing 2028 Olympic ambitions and commenting on Conor McGregor’s future.