Covington Tops RAF Crossover Rankings Ahead Of Tsarukyan And Chimaev

Colby Covington landed atop Real American Freestyle's first crossover rankings, placing ahead of a list dominated by current and former UFC fighters.

RAF unveiled the inaugural pound-for-pound crossover rankings Monday, with Covington occupying the No. 1 spot after going 5-0 in the promotion, MMA Fighting reported. The current RAF cruiserweight crossover champion has beaten Arman Tsarukyan, Dillon Danis, and former UFC titleholders Belal Muhammad, Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold since joining the organization. Crossover rankings track athletes better known outside wrestling circles who compete in the discipline for RAF.

Former two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo sits second with a 2-1 RAF record. Cejudo won the lightweight crossover belt in August with a 36-second pinfall over Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 12, according to MMA Mania. Tsarukyan, who carries a 7-1 mark in the promotion, landed third. Khamzat Chimaev and Dvalishvili completed the top five.

The rankings arrive ahead of a busy stretch for RAF. Tsarukyan faces Danis this Friday at RAF 14 in Las Vegas for the inaugural middleweight crossover title, while Chimaev meets former UFC welterweight champ Robbie Lawler in the co-main event. Covington is scheduled to defend his cruiserweight belt against Chimaev next month in Abu Dhabi.

Other UFC names in the top 20 include Aaron Pico at No. 6, Tyron Woodley at No. 7, Michael Chandler at No. 8, Aljamain Sterling at No. 12, and Shara Magomedov at No. 15. Muhammad, despite losing to Covington, landed at No. 13. Former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar sits at No. 18.

RAF 14 goes Friday in Las Vegas.