Colby Covington (17-5, 12-5 UFC) and Chris Weidman (16-8, 12-8 UFC) will compete in a professional freestyle wrestling match on May 30 at RAF09. This marks a departure from MMA competition for both fighters, who will test their skills in pure wrestling. Covington has a collegiate wrestling background, while Weidman is also known for his grappling credentials. The matchup represents an interesting crossover event between MMA and wrestling. Both fighters remain active in their MMA careers while taking on this wrestling challenge.
Colby Covington and Chris Weidman will step away from the MMA cage and onto the wrestling mat when they meet in a professional freestyle wrestling match on May 30 at RAF09.
Covington, known by his "Chaos" nickname, carries a 17-5 record with 12 of those wins coming inside the UFC. The 38-year-old American, who trains out of MMA Masters, built his professional fighting career on a collegiate wrestling foundation. That background shows up in his MMA numbers — he averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, among the higher marks in his division. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance.
Weidman, nicknamed "The All-American," brings a 16-8 record to the match, going 12-8 in UFC competition. The 42-year-old New Yorker trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and has long been recognized for his grappling credentials alongside his striking. He stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and averages 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA, adding 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes as a measure of his ground threat.
Why it matters
- Both fighters bring legitimate grappling pedigrees into a pure wrestling format, stripping away striking to isolate that dimension of their games.
- Covington's higher takedown average in MMA sets up an interesting technical contrast against Weidman's longer frame and submission-oriented ground work.
- The crossover event adds to a growing trend of MMA athletes competing in alternative combat sports formats while remaining active in their primary careers.
