Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington to Clash for Title at RAF Abu Dhabi in November

Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington Set for Title Fight at RAF Abu Dhabi

The long-running rivalry between Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington will finally reach a peak this November. The two fighters are scheduled to headline the first-ever Real American Freestyle (RAF) event in Abu Dhabi, battling for Covington’s cruiserweight crossover championship on November 14 at the Etihad Arena.

Covington's Rise in RAF

Colby Covington, who boasts a 5-0 record under the RAF banner, has embraced the promotion as a perfect fit for his style. Once the UFC interim welterweight champion and a three-time UFC title challenger, Covington has dominated the RAF scene in 2026 with five straight victories. His wins include triumphs over known MMA competitors such as Luke Rockhold, Dillon Danis, and Chris Weidman. He captured the inaugural cruiserweight crossover title in July by defeating Arman Tsarukyan.

Most recently, Covington defended his belt convincingly, shutting out former UFC welterweight champ Belal Muhammad 10-0 at RAF 13 earlier this month.

Chimaev’s Rapid Success

Khamzat Chimaev, a former UFC middleweight champion, has also made waves in RAF with a strong 2-0 start. He swiftly dismantled Dillon Danis in just 45 seconds during his June debut and followed that with a 94-second knockout of ex-UFC welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley at RAF Moscow.

A Rivalry Years in the Making

The tension between Chimaev and Covington has simmered since Chimaev's UFC debut in 2020. They have exchanged verbal jabs from afar for years, but now they will settle the score inside the cage.

Additional RAF Abu Dhabi Matchups Announced

Alongside this headline bout, RAF revealed several other big names set to compete in Abu Dhabi. Fighters like Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, and Abdulrashid Sadulaev will appear, though their opponents remain unconfirmed.