RAF exec gives update on Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad match after RAF 11 post-event melee

Colby Covington will face Belal Muhammad in a wrestling match for RAF's cruiserweight crossover title, though the timing and location remain fluid following a post-event altercation between the two competitors.

Both Covington and Muhammad secured victories at RAF 11 last weekend—Covington defeated Arman Tsarukyan to win the inaugural cruiserweight title, while Muhammad topped Ben Askren. The matchup was immediately announced for RAF 12 in Cleveland on August 22 as the card's co-main event. However, tensions boiled over at the post-event press conference when Muhammad physically confronted Covington, forcing RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein to intervene and separate the pair.

Bronstein told MMA Fighting he was surprised by the aggression, having expected only verbal sparring between the two rivals. "I didn't think it was going to happen," Bronstein said, adding that despite their trash talk, both competitors are "ultimate professionals" whom he knows personally. Though Covington subsequently told media he might pull from the matchup, Bronstein made clear that decision rests with promotion leadership, not the fighter-investor. "He's going to wrestle Belal. The question is, is it going to happen in Cleveland, or is it going to happen in Miami?"

If Muhammad cannot compete in Cleveland, Branden Allen—a friend of Muhammad's—would step in for Covington at RAF 12, with the Covington-Muhammad bout shifting to RAF 13 in Miami on September 19. Covington, now 4-0 for RAF with technical fall wins over former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and jiu-jitsu specialist Dillon Danis, has expressed eagerness to remain active. Bronstein confirmed the fighter has multiple bouts scheduled through the remainder of 2026, promising fans consistent action from his title holder.