Colby Covington Eyes RAF Rematches with Chimaev and Usman After Dominating Belal Muhammad

Colby Covington has two specific freestyle wrestling (RAF) matchups he believes would capture significant attention.

Covington has found renewed success in his post-MMA freestyle wrestling career. He recently achieved a flawless 10-0 victory against former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. This win followed his July triumph over Arman Tsarukyan, where he secured a 5-3 score. Covington indicated that a rivalry match with Chimaev and a confrontation with his long-standing opponent Kamaru Usman are the next logical steps for RAF.

Speaking to reporters after his RAF 13 bout with Muhammad, Covington outlined his reasoning for pursuing fights with Chimaev and Usman, as reported by MMAJunkie.

"There are many fighters, and fortunately, RAF has a deep talent pool for me to compete against and challenge myself," Covington stated at the RAF 13 post-fight press conference. "Naturally, 'Marty Fakenewsman' (Kamaru Usman) remains; we have unresolved issues. A trilogy fight between us would be a major event, likely my top priority. 'Cumshot' (Khamzat) Chimaev is also on the list, but he needs to manage his weight. He can't continue to be unprofessional, miss weight, or withdraw due to minor illnesses."

Chimaev recently suggested he inadvertently revealed RAF's plans for a potential match with Covington. Whether this bout materializes is uncertain. The two fighters have a history of verbal sparring, and the build-up to such a contest would likely engage a substantial portion of the MMA audience. It remains to be seen if fans are eager to see Covington and Usman compete on the wrestling mats.

Usman defeated Covington twice during their UFC welterweight title reigns. In their first fight, "The Nigerian Nightmare" inflicted a TKO victory by breaking Covington's jaw. Usman then secured a unanimous decision win in the rematch.