Colby Covington Retains RAF Belt 10-0 Over Belal Muhammad, Eyes Khamzat Chimaev

Q: Could an undefeated Khamzat Chimaev be the ultimate threat to end Covington’s crossover wrestling reign in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. If RAF finalizes Colby Covington vs. Khamzat Chimaev for Abu Dhabi, Chimaev looks like the most dangerous challenger yet to Covington’s crossover title run. The case is straightforward. Covington is unbeaten in RAF and just handled Belal Muhammad 10-0 after previously beating Arman Tsarukyan for the inaugural cruiserweight crossover belt. He has shown a reliable formula: fast starts, pressure, positional control and the ability to pile up points without taking major risks. That makes him the standard in this division. But Chimaev brings the strongest recent threat profile. He moved to 3-0 in RAF by beating Gilbert Burns 15-4 after already pinning Tyron Woodley in 94 seconds. Unlike some crossover names, Chimaev is not just a draw; he is producing dominant wrestling results against credible opposition. His pace, explosiveness and scoring ability make him a different type of problem from Muhammad. There are still caveats. Chimaev is not actually undefeated overall anymore, having lost his UFC middleweight title and unbeaten MMA record to Sean Strickland earlier this year, even though he remains unbeaten in RAF. Weight could also be a sticking point. Covington has said he will not go near 200 pounds and wants Chimaev at or around 185, so any Abu Dhabi booking may depend on terms. Even so, on form and matchup value, Chimaev is the clearest candidate to end Covington’s reign. If the bout happens, it would likely be RAF’s biggest and most competitive crossover title fight yet.

Q: With his growing investment in RAF, is Colby Covington secretly closing the door on his MMA career forever?

No — not secretly, and not forever, at least by his own account. Covington’s actions show a clear shift away from MMA and toward Real American Freestyle, but the available evidence suggests this is a strategic pause rather than an irrevocable retirement. He has said explicitly that he is “not fully retired,” calling his UFC exit a way to get past the “red tape” that had limited his ability to pursue RAF matches while tied to MMA obligations. What is unmistakable is where his priorities are now. He is 4-0 in RAF, has won and retained the cruiserweight crossover title, and is not just competing there but investing in the promotion. He has also said wrestling is his “first true love,” that RAF offers him more activity, more control over matchmaking, and potentially more money over a full year than the UFC did late in his career. Those are strong indicators that RAF is now his main professional lane. At the same time, Covington has left himself an opening. He has said he would consider returning for a “big and huge” UFC offer or the right marquee fight, while also stressing that he is at peace if that call never comes. His comments about not wanting to fight into his 40s add weight to the idea that any MMA comeback would likely be limited, selective and short-term. So the door is not shut, but it is no longer wide open. RAF appears to be his future; MMA now looks like a contingency.

3 articles · Updated · Bloody Elbow · Sep 18

Miami saw Covington beat Muhammad 10-0 in two periods to retain the RAF Wrestling cruiserweight title, ending the latest chapter of a feud carried over from their UFC days.
20 seconds in, Covington poked Muhammad in the eye, then built a 6-0 lead with an early takedown before Muhammad was penalized on the shot clock and lost by a 1-0 technical fall sequence.
The belt defense followed Covington’s title win over Arman Tsarukyan, and the former interim UFC welterweight champion used the post-match moment to dedicate the victory to first responders.
Khamzat Chimaev emerged as the apparent next target, though Covington also named former rivals Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman as possible opponents.