Colby Covington Lays Down Terms for Khamzat Chimaev Wrestling Match: "185 lbs or Nothing"
Colby Covington is ready to fight Khamzat Chimaev at RAF but he has a condition that has to be met or the fight will never happen. Covington wants to be the one to choose the weight.
A long-awaited rivalry that never came to fruition in the UFC Octagon might finally settle itself on the wrestling mat, but Colby Covington isn't about to give away any free weight advantages. After Khamzat Chimaev accidentally let slip that a Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling match in Abu Dhabi was in the works, Covington made it crystal clear that the contest will only happen under his strict parameters.
Speaking with Helen Yee Sports, the 38-year-old former interim UFC Welterweight Champion, who holds a 17-5 professional record in mixed martial arts, laid down a firm boundary regarding the weight class. Chimaev, who holds a 15-1 professional MMA record, has competed primarily at 185 pounds recently and tipped the scales heavier during recent RAF appearances.
"I'm not going to accommodate him and his weight," Covington stated. "I'm not going to go up to 200 lbs, so unless he wants to come down to 185 lbs..."
Heavyweight Demands vs. Middleweight Reality
The matchup gained serious traction after Chimaev inadvertently leaked the promotion's plans during the RAF 13 media event. While discussing future opponents, Chimaev smiled and admitted, "Colby is not in the UFC right now, so I think we're going to wrestle in Abu Dhabi... Uh, I maybe announced that too early. Sorry, guys."
While combat sports fans immediately buzzed over the prospect of two world-class grapplers squaring off, Covington isn't willing to compromise his physical frame just to satisfy Chimaev. Walking around at a natural 188 to 189 pounds, "Chaos" believes a 185-pound limit is the only fair requirement.
Covington already holds significant leverage in the promotion as the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover champion after defeating lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11. With Covington set to defend against Belal Muhammad at RAF 13 and Chimaev scheduled to wrestle Gilbert Burns on the same card, both men must clear their immediate hurdles first. If they do, Chimaev will have to cut down to 185 pounds if he wants to share the mat with Covington.
