Covington Calls for 3rd Usman Bout Over Chimaev After 1st RAF Title Defense

Q: Will Kamaru Usman step onto the RAF mat to finally settle his bitter UFC rivalry with Colby Covington?

Not yet — and there is no confirmed sign that Kamaru Usman will take the RAF match with Colby Covington. What is clear is that Covington wants it. After beating Belal Muhammad at RAF 13 in Miami, he said he would prefer a trilogy with Usman over a match with Khamzat Chimaev, repeating that he has “unfinished business” from their two UFC fights. Usman was in the building, which added to the speculation, but attendance is not the same as a deal. The key obstacle is simple: Usman has not signed with Real American Freestyle. Multiple reports around RAF 13 say no bout agreement has been announced, and RAF has not officially booked Covington vs. Usman. Covington has publicly pushed for the matchup for months, but that alone does not move it beyond talk. There are also reasons to be cautious about timing. Usman, 39, is still weighing his fighting future after his recent UFC loss to Dricus du Plessis, and his recent comments have framed himself as a “moneyweight” fighter open to various opportunities rather than specifically committing to RAF. That leaves the door open, but it does not amount to acceptance. So the most accurate answer is that the match remains possible, but unconfirmed. Covington is lobbying hard for it, RAF would likely welcome the attention, and Usman’s wrestling background makes it plausible. Until Usman signs and the promotion announces it, though, it is still speculation rather than a scheduled rivalry finale.

Q: Can Covington force the massive Khamzat Chimaev down to 185 pounds for a highly anticipated crossover wrestling showdown?

No—Covington cannot simply force Chimaev to 185 pounds, and right now the matchup remains speculative. What Covington can do is make 185 pounds his condition for taking the match. He has publicly said he will not move up to 200 pounds and wants Chimaev to come down to 185 if they meet in RAF. That is significant because Chimaev’s recent RAF match with Gilbert Burns was reportedly contested at 200 pounds, while Covington weighed in at 185 for his title defense against Belal Muhammad. But leverage is not the same as authority. RAF has not officially announced Covington vs. Chimaev, let alone a contracted weight. Chimaev has hinted at an Abu Dhabi bout, and Covington has acknowledged interest under his own terms, but no formal agreement exists. Until both sides sign, neither fighter can dictate the terms unilaterally. From a practical standpoint, Chimaev has competed primarily at middleweight in MMA, so 185 pounds is not an impossible ask. Even so, whether he would accept that cut for a freestyle wrestling crossover is another matter, especially after competing heavier in RAF. If the fight is going to happen, the likely sticking point is exactly that: weight. So the answer is that Covington can try to use his title status and drawing power to push for 185, but he cannot force Chimaev there unless Chimaev and RAF agree.

3 articles · Updated · Bloody Elbow · Sep 19

Colby Covington said he wants Kamaru Usman—not Khamzat Chimaev—as his next RAF crossover championship opponent after beating Belal Muhammad in Miami.
Covington framed the choice as unfinished business, saying their two UFC fights were controversial and that he wants to settle a trilogy on the RAF mat.
Chimaev had appeared to hint before RAF 13 that he could face Covington in Abu Dhabi, but no official bout has been announced and Covington said nothing is set.
Usman has not signed with RAF, though he attended Friday’s event; speculation about a move has grown since his July UFC loss to Dricus du Plessis.
The callout comes after Covington’s first successful defense of the RAF cruiserweight crossover title, which he won by beating Arman Tsarukyan in July.