Real American Freestyle expands with MMA crossover championship division

Real American Freestyle announced the inaugural RAF Crossover Championship, a new division designed for elite combat sports crossover athletes blending freestyle wrestling with MMA talent. The promotion revealed the first cruiserweight championship matchup on July 13, 2026: Arman Tsarukyan versus Colby Covington, set to take place at RAF 11 in Milwaukee on July 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

Tsarukyan enters the bout riding a perfect 6–0 record under the RAF banner after his recent dominant victory over Kuat Khamitov at RAF Georgia. Covington arrives unbeaten through three RAF appearances and brings an accomplished wrestling pedigree, including an NJCAA national championship and NCAA Division I All-American honors. The former UFC interim welterweight champion most recently defeated Chris Weidman at RAF 9, maintaining his winning streak in the promotion.

The new championship division marks RAF's expansion into high-profile crossover matchups, offering marquee bouts between wrestlers and mixed martial artists. The Milwaukee event will serve as the debut chapter for the Crossover Championship, positioning Tsarukyan and Covington as the inaugural cruiserweight titleholders in the organization's latest competitive offering.