Khamzat Chimaev to Challenge Colby Covington for RAF Cruiserweight Title

Real American Freestyle (RAF) has officially announced that Khamzat Chimaev will face Colby Covington for the promotion’s Cruiserweight Crossover championship. The title bout is scheduled to take place on November 14, 2026, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The matchup follows reports from MMA Mania indicating that the championship opportunity was originally presented to Covington as a contest against Sean Strickland. According to these reports, the proposed bout—intended to resolve a longstanding rivalry on the wrestling mats—did not materialize after Covington was unable to meet the weight requirements, citing a disparity of over 10 pounds. With the Strickland matchup off the table, Chimaev has stepped into the championship slot to face Covington in the headline position for the upcoming Abu Dhabi event. The promotion has finalized the pairing for the November card as it moves forward with its Cruiserweight Crossover division title plans.

Source: MMA Mania.