Colby Covington will certainly face Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match, however it’s only a matter of when.
Each fighters had wins over Arman Tsarukian and Ben Askren, respectively, at RAF 11 this previous weekend, and a matchup between Covington and Mohamed has been formally confirmed because the co-main occasion of RAF 12 in Cleveland on August twenty second, with Covington’s newly received cruiserweight crossover title on the road. After the announcement, Muhammad pursued Covington in the course of the post-event press convention, and safety intervened.
RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein, who instantly jumped in to separate the 2 opponents, was shocked that this case had occurred.
“I did not suppose it was going to occur, no, however you may inform there was warmth occurring, proper?” Bronstein instructed MMA Preventing. “As you possibly can see, I used to be in the course of it, I used to be the primary and I used to be in the course of it making an attempt to cease it immediately, however I by no means thought it will occur.
“I assumed there was going to be some dangerous trash discuss between the 2 of them. They did not like one another, however I did not count on a bodily confrontation to occur. I used to be drained after two weeks of touring and I wasn’t actually trying ahead to leaping up in the course of a scuffle, however my instincts instructed me to do it.”
“However, no, I did not count on that. However there’s a lot rigidity between these two, you already know? I do know these two, I do know them personally, they usually each have an ideal relationship. And to be sincere, I by no means anticipated them to do one thing like that, as a result of as a lot as they discuss trash loads, I additionally know that they are truly each final professionals.”
Because the close to brawl, Covington instructed Submission Radio that he was contemplating giving up on the battle altogether, however instructed MMA Preventing that he might transfer on to a different opponent.
Bronstein stated that whereas Covington could also be proper in some methods, he would undoubtedly battle Muhammad.
“So… Colby is an investor, however on the finish of the day, Izzy and I are those making the battle selections. He is aware of that,” Bronstein stated. “And the second factor is, he’ll wrestle Belal. The query is, will it occur in Cleveland or will it occur in Miami? However it can occur. We expect the match in Cleveland is scheduled proper now, however he is undoubtedly going to wrestle Belal.”
“(Possibly) we’ll know within the subsequent day or so.”
If Muhammad is unable to compete at RAF 12, Bronstein stated Covington will face one other top-ranked fighter within the UFC on the occasion, and Muhammad will certainly nonetheless be in attendance to observe “Chaos” battle earlier than competing at RAF 13 on September nineteenth.
“Colby goes to play in Cleveland it doesn’t matter what,” Bronsten defined. “If Beral does not play in Cleveland and performs in Miami, it will be Branden Allen who will play Colby in Cleveland.
“Belal and Brandon Allen are buddies, proper? So, that is factor. … However for now, Beral remains to be set. But when he cannot do it, it will be Miami.”
Covington is presently competing for the promotion with a 4-0 report, together with tech fall wins over former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and jiu-jitsu ace Dillon Danis. Covington defeated Chris Weidman at RAF 9 in Could, incomes him the chance to face Tsarukyan for the inaugural crossover title.
Bronstein stated followers who’re trying ahead to seeing Covington in motion all through the rest of 2026 can be excited to be taught of his plans.
“Colby at all times needs to compete for a title,” Bronstein stated. “He says anybody can bounce in and be prepared. You will see Colby doing fairly a bit from Cleveland to Miami to the worldwide exhibits with Most important Occasion. There’s loads booked for Colby. We will not provide you with all the small print.”
