Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington are set to face off in the headline bout of Real American Freestyle (RAF) Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14th. This highly anticipated matchup, recently confirmed through RAF’s official social media, will be contested for the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship, putting an end to weeks of speculation about these two former UFC champions finally meeting inside the cage.
RAF has eyed this showdown for their major Abu Dhabi event for quite some time, though Covington’s involvement was uncertain after the promotion announced Chimaev’s participation back on September 21st without naming an opponent. Notably, Chimaev will also compete at RAF 14 in Las Vegas on October 24th against Robbie Lawler.
Since retiring from the UFC in May, former interim UFC welterweight champion Covington has stayed active within RAF, competing five times total and remaining undefeated under their banner. His RAF victories include wins over notable names such as Belal Muhammad, Arman Tsarukyan, Chris Weidman, Dillon Danis, and Luke Rockhold. Meanwhile, Chimaev has rebounded from a disappointing performance against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, where he lost his UFC middleweight title. He currently boasts a 3-0 record in RAF with wins against Gilbert Burns, Tyron Woodley, and Dillon Danis.
Although Chimaev has expressed interest in returning to the UFC soon, his scheduled RAF fights in October and November suggest he won’t be competing in UFC bouts again until at least 2027. RAF Abu Dhabi will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, kicking off on November 14th at 8 p.m. GST / 1 p.m. EST.
Fan Take: This fight is a game-changer for MMA fans because it pits two elite former UFC champions in a fresh, crossover promotion that’s quickly gaining traction. Their clash could redefine the landscape outside the UFC and prove there’s room for high-level competition beyond the sport’s biggest organization.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
