International freestyle wrestling relies heavily on explosive level changes, chest-to-chest turns, and lightning-fast scrambles. Folkstyle wrestling, the distinctly American collegiate discipline, is rooted in controlling an opponent against the mat and inflicting mechanical exhaustion through riding time. That technical distinction decided the bout at RAF 11.
Tsarukyan attempted to generate momentum through rapid hip heists and sit-outs. Covington answered by trapping the wrists, threading half-nelsons, and driving his shoulder directly into Tsarukyan’s spine. By keeping Tsarukyan’s hands loaded with his own body weight, Covington drained the spring from Tsarukyan’s legs.
Tsarukyan managed two clean shot attempts in rounds three and four, but Covington’s takedown defense stats remained pristine. He stuffed Tsarukyan’s double leg along the boundary edge, using simple head-position leverage to force stalemates. By the fifth frame, Tsarukyan’s attacks lacked their usual snap, allowing Covington to cruise to a lopsided unanimous decision.
