A matchup discussed for years in MMA will finally happen, but not inside the UFC Octagon. Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev are set to test their wrestling against each other.The Colby Covington Khamzat Chimaev match will headline Real American Freestyle’s upcoming Abu Dhabi event. The promotion announced that the two UFC stars will compete for its 185-pound championship.
Covington vs Chimaev Finally Becomes Reality
Colby Covington 17-4-0 and Chimaev have been connected to a potential UFC fight several times. Their paths never crossed inside the Octagon, but RAF has now brought them together.
The matchup comes with championship stakes rather than serving as an exhibition. Covington enters with momentum after his dominant RAF 13 performance, while Chimaev brings an elite grappling reputation into his promotional debut.
Chimaev Will Compete for RAF Gold
Khamzat Chimaev 16-0-0 remains undefeated in professional MMA and currently holds the UFC middleweight championship. His wrestling and submission game have played major roles throughout his rise.
Chimaev will now enter a ruleset focused entirely on grappling. The move gives him an opportunity to compete without taking an MMA fight while remaining active outside the Octagon.
Covington Earned the Opportunity at RAF 13
Covington made an emphatic RAF debut against Belal Muhammad earlier this month. He controlled their match from beginning to end and earned a 10-0 technical-fall victory.
That performance showed that Covington’s wrestling remains a major strength despite his recent MMA inactivity. His one-sided RAF 13 win over Belal Muhammad immediately positioned him for another high-profile freestyle matchup.
Muhammad later addressed the defeat after struggling to establish his own offense against Covington.
Chimaev Presents a Completely Different Test
Covington controlled Muhammad through pace, positioning and repeated scoring opportunities. Chimaev presents a much larger physical challenge.
The UFC middleweight champion competes at 185 pounds and has regularly overwhelmed opponents with pressure. Covington spent most of his UFC career competing at welterweight.
That size difference adds another layer to the matchup. Covington’s experience and conditioning must counter Chimaev’s strength and explosive wrestling.
Chimaev’s Wrestling Has Dominated UFC Opponents
Chimaev built his UFC reputation by forcing opponents into uncomfortable grappling exchanges. His ability to combine takedowns with control has made him one of MMA’s most difficult matchups.
His championship rise eventually took him to the top of the middleweight division. The undefeated fighter has since discussed remaining active, with his next UFC fight also generating significant interest.
RAF gives Chimaev another competitive outlet while his UFC future develops.
Covington Returns to Abu Dhabi Against a Familiar Rival
The location also carries history for Covington. He has previously competed in Abu Dhabi during his UFC career and now returns for a very different challenge.
Covington has never been shy about criticizing Chimaev. The pair exchanged comments during the period when UFC officials considered matching them at welterweight.
Those previous exchanges give RAF a ready-made storyline. This time, their rivalry will be settled through wrestling rather than MMA.
Why Their UFC Fight Never Happened
A Covington-Chimaev UFC matchup became a major talking point when both fighters competed around the welterweight title picture. However, the promotion never finalized the fight.
Their careers eventually moved in different directions. Chimaev moved permanently to middleweight, while Covington remained at 170 pounds and challenged for UFC gold.
That divisional separation made an MMA meeting increasingly unlikely. RAF has now found a format that allows both men to compete at the same weight.
RAF Continues Adding Major MMA Names
Real American Freestyle has increasingly used recognizable MMA fighters to build its events. Covington’s previous appearance against Muhammad generated attention because of their UFC rivalry.
Adding Chimaev raises the profile considerably. The reigning UFC champion enters RAF with one of the strongest wrestling reputations in MMA.
The promotion is also putting championship stakes behind the matchup. That gives the event more meaning than a standard crossover grappling appearance.
Wrestling Rules Could Change the Matchup
An MMA fight between Covington and Chimaev would include striking, submissions and cage work. RAF removes several of those elements and places greater emphasis on wrestling.
That could produce a very different contest from what fans once expected inside the UFC. Covington’s pace and collegiate wrestling experience become especially valuable under those conditions.
Chimaev still brings exceptional takedown ability and physical strength. How those strengths translate against Covington’s wrestling volume will become the central question.
Covington Looks to Build on Belal Muhammad Win
Covington’s RAF 13 performance gave him an ideal start in the promotion. He prevented Muhammad from scoring while steadily building his own advantage.
The result also came after a difficult period in Covington’s MMA career. He has remained a recognizable UFC name, but his recent Octagon results have not matched his earlier title runs.
Beating Chimaev in freestyle wrestling would represent a much bigger challenge. It would also give Covington another major achievement outside traditional MMA competition.
Chimaev Has Plenty at Stake Despite Leaving the Octagon
Chimaev enters as one of the most feared grapplers in the UFC. That reputation naturally creates expectations whenever he competes under a wrestling-focused ruleset.
Facing Covington gives him an experienced opponent with genuine wrestling credentials. It also allows fans to finally see two fighters whose rivalry never produced a UFC matchup.
Neither man’s MMA record will change regardless of the result. However, the contest can still answer a long-running question about how their wrestling compares directly.
Final Thoughts
The Colby Covington Khamzat Chimaev matchup gives fans a fight they once expected to see inside the UFC. RAF has instead turned their unfinished rivalry into a championship wrestling match.
Covington enters after dominating Muhammad, while Chimaev brings an undefeated MMA record and UFC championship status. Their contrasting size, pace and wrestling styles make the Abu Dhabi main event particularly intriguing.
FAQs
Are Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev fighting?
Yes. Covington and Chimaev are scheduled to meet in a wrestling match under the Real American Freestyle banner.
Is Covington vs Chimaev an MMA fight?
No. The matchup will take place under RAF’s wrestling rules rather than UFC MMA rules.
Is there a title involved in Covington vs Chimaev?
Yes. The matchup will be contested for RAF’s 185-pound championship.
How did Colby Covington perform in his RAF debut?
Covington defeated Belal Muhammad by a dominant 10-0 technical fall at RAF 13.
Where will Covington vs Chimaev take place?
The championship wrestling match will headline RAF’s event in Abu Dhabi.
