RAF 13 is just around the corner, featuring a heated showdown between UFC veterans Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad as the main event at Friday’s Real American Freestyle event in Miami. Covington will defend his RAF cruiserweight crossover title against Muhammad, while Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns will revisit their unforgettable 2022 UFC bout in a catchweight wrestling match.
Here’s everything you need to know about RAF 13.
When is RAF 13 and how can I watch?
RAF 13 is scheduled for Friday, September 18, at the Watsco Center on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, Florida. The event kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will be available to stream live on Fox Nation.
Who’s headlining RAF 13?
Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington takes on former UFC welterweight champ Belal Muhammad in a cruiserweight crossover title fight.
Covington has quickly become one of RAF’s standout crossover athletes, boasting a perfect 4-0 record in 2026 with victories over Chris Weidman, Dillon Danis, Luke Rockhold, and Arman Tsarukyan. His latest win made him the first fighter to beat Tsarukyan on RAF mats at RAF 11 in July.
Since moving to RAF, Muhammad has gone 1-1, bouncing back from a loss to David Carr with a dominant win over Ben Askren at the same RAF 11 event. Though both have long been top contenders in the UFC welterweight division, this will be their first meeting inside the cage.
Who else is competing at RAF 13?
The co-main event features Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns rematching over four years after their memorable UFC 273 clash. Chimaev, a former UFC middleweight champ, won their April 2022 fight by unanimous decision, but this Friday’s bout is under a different set of rules.
Chimaev has quickly proven his dominance in RAF, pinning Dillon Danis in 45 seconds during his promotional debut in June and taking down ex-UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley in just 94 seconds at RAF Moscow on September 5. Burns, fresh from retiring from MMA earlier this year, will make his RAF debut.
RAF 13 also features four more title fights, including a thrilling MMA crossover matchup between former UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold and current contender Joe Pyfer.
Below is the full RAF 13 fight card:
RAF 13 Match Card (8 p.m. ET, Fox Nation)
- Cruiserweight crossover championship: Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad
- Catchweight: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns
- Women’s middleweight championship: Kennedy Blades vs. Diana Avsaragova
- Bantamweight championship: Austin DeSanto vs. Arsen Harutyunyan
- Welterweight: Michael Caliendo vs. Timur Bizhoev
- Light heavyweight: Luke Rockhold vs. Joe Pyfer
- Middleweight championship: Jason Nolf vs. Julian Ramirez
- Cruiserweight: Georgios Kougioumtsidis vs. Chance Marsteller
- Welterweight: Bryce Meredith vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
- Featherweight crossover championship: Johnni DiJulius vs. Cayden Henschel
- Lightweight: Haji Aliyev vs. Jacori Teemer
- Catchweight: Mugzy vs. Real Tarzann
Fan Take:
This event is crucial for fight fans as it brings together top-tier UFC names transitioning into RAF, offering a fresh arena and new rule sets that could redefine MMA’s competitive landscape. The cross-promotion matchups and championships on display highlight RAF’s potential to become a game-changer in the sport’s evolution.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
