Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington finally set to settle long-running feud

Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington will finally settle their long-simmering feud at Real American Freestyle Abu Dhabi on November 14 at the Etihad Arena. The two rivals will compete for RAF's cruiserweight crossover championship, a weight class that sits between traditional combat sports divisions. Covington won the inaugural title by defeating Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11 and has since defended it against Belal Muhammad at RAF 13. Chimaev, a former UFC middleweight title contender, called for the matchup following his recent victory over Gilbert Burns. The animosity between the two dates back to their time in the UFC and has persisted in recent years. The inaugural RAF Abu Dhabi event marks the beginning of a five-year partnership between Real American Freestyle, the Department of Culture and Tourism–Abu Dhabi, and the UAE Wrestling Federation. The card will also feature notable athletes including Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, and Abdulrashid Sadulaev, though most opponents remain to be announced.