RAF 13 delivered a major night of crossover wrestling in Miami, with Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad finally settling their long-running rivalry on the mats. Covington retained his RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship, while Khamzat Chimaev returned for another wrestling appearance against former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns. The event took place at the Watsco Center in Miami, Florida, on September 18.
Colby Covington Defeats Belal Muhammad at RAF 13
Colby Covington remained undefeated in RAF competition after getting past Belal Muhammad in the main event. The victory kept Covington’s crossover championship around his waist and extended his RAF record to 4-0.
The matchup had been building for months after the two former UFC welterweight rivals repeatedly exchanged verbal shots outside competition. Their rivalry never produced a UFC fight, but RAF finally brought them together under wrestling rules after Muhammad defeated Ben Askren and Covington captured the crossover title against Arman Tsarukyan.
Covington entered RAF 13 with victories over Luke Rockhold, Dillon Danis, Chris Weidman and Tsarukyan. His win over Tsarukyan at RAF 11 made him the promotion’s first Crossover Cruiserweight Champion, setting up the eventual meeting with Muhammad.
Muhammad also arrived with momentum after earning his first RAF victory against Askren. The former UFC welterweight champion had previously lost his RAF debut before bouncing back, giving the headline matchup an additional storyline beyond their long-running MMA rivalry.
Khamzat Chimaev Faces Gilbert Burns Again
The co-main event brought another familiar UFC rivalry to the wrestling mats as Khamzat Chimaev faced Gilbert Burns. The matchup was a wrestling rematch of their memorable UFC 273 encounter, which Chimaev won by unanimous decision in April 2022.
Chimaev entered RAF 13 after establishing himself as one of the promotion’s most dangerous crossover competitors. He had already defeated Dillon Danis at RAF 10 before pinning Tyron Woodley in only 94 seconds at RAF Moscow earlier this month.
The Burns matchup therefore represented another test for Chimaev outside the UFC. Burns brought extensive Brazilian jiu-jitsu experience, while Chimaev entered with a much stronger traditional wrestling background and two RAF appearances already behind him.
Chimaev’s recent wrestling run has also added another chapter to his combat sports career. His UFC future remains a major storyline, and Sportsgotec has previously covered the developing picture around Khamzat Chimaev’s next fight as he balances his wrestling appearances with his MMA career.
Luke Rockhold vs Joe Pyfer Adds Another UFC Connection
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold also returned to the RAF mats at the Miami event. Rockhold faced current UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer in a catchweight wrestling matchup, giving the card another contest between fighters with established UFC backgrounds.
Rockhold had previously made his RAF debut against Covington and entered this matchup looking for his first victory in the promotion. Pyfer, meanwhile, was making his RAF debut after building momentum in the UFC middleweight division.
The matchup also provided an unusual crossover test because neither fighter entered with the extensive wrestling credentials of many dedicated RAF competitors. Rockhold had some wrestling experience before transitioning into MMA, while Pyfer wrestled in high school before focusing on mixed martial arts.
Pyfer’s UFC middleweight status makes the result particularly relevant for MMA fans. UFC middleweight rankings provide additional context for where the active UFC division stands outside the RAF crossover event.
RAF 13 Featured Multiple Championship Matchups
The card extended well beyond its two UFC-heavy headline attractions. Kennedy Blades faced Diana Avsaragova for the women’s middleweight championship, while Austin DeSanto and Arsen Harutyunyan competed for the bantamweight title. Jason Nolf and Julian Ramirez also met with the RAF middleweight championship at stake.
Other notable matchups included Michael Caliendo vs Timur Bizhoev, Georgios Kougioumtsidis vs Chance Marsteller and Bryce Meredith vs Movlid Khaybulaev. Johnni DiJulius and Cayden Henschel also competed for the inaugural RAF Featherweight Crossover Championship.
The full event featured 12 scheduled matches, including Haji Aliyev vs Jacori Teemer and the catchweight matchup between Mugzy and Real Tarzann. RAF officially listed the event for the Watsco Center with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Nation.
What RAF 13 Means for Covington and Chimaev
Covington’s latest victory keeps him at the center of RAF’s growing crossover division. His undefeated run has already included wins over several established MMA names, and the Muhammad matchup finally delivered the rivalry that had been developing since RAF 11.
Chimaev’s continued success on the wrestling mats also gives RAF another major MMA crossover attraction. He has now built momentum across multiple appearances while remaining one of the biggest names competing under the promotion’s rules.
The event also highlights RAF’s strategy of combining established MMA names with elite wrestling specialists. That mix has allowed the promotion to create matchups that would not normally happen inside the UFC, while giving former champions and contenders another competitive platform.
Final Thoughts
RAF 13 brought together two major MMA rivalries and a deep collection of wrestling talent in one of the promotion’s biggest events to date. Covington successfully defended his crossover championship against Muhammad, while Chimaev continued his RAF run against Burns in the co-main event.
The results also strengthen RAF’s position as a crossover platform for established MMA names and elite wrestlers. With Covington still holding the championship and Chimaev continuing to compete under RAF rules, both storylines are likely to remain important as the promotion moves toward its next events.
