UFC veterans 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 RAF 09. This represents a departure from traditional MMA competition for both fighters. Covington has dabbled in wrestling-focused content outside the cage, while Weidman is a decorated wrestler from his pre-MMA days. The bout offers fans a chance to see the pure grappling skills of two UFC contenders. Further details about rules or weight class were not provided. RAF 09 will feature this high-profile crossover attraction.
Colby Covington and Chris Weidman are set to step away from the MMA cage and onto the wrestling mat, with the two UFC veterans booked for a professional freestyle wrestling match on May 30 at RAF 09.
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 trains out of MMA Masters and built his professional fighting career on a relentless wrestling-based style. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, he averaged 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, one of the more active takedown rates among welterweights in recent memory.
Weidman, nicknamed "The All-American," brings a 16-8 record to the match, going 12-8 in the UFC across his career. The 42-year-old New Yorker trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and leaned heavily on his wrestling credentials long before he reached the professional ranks. At six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, he averaged 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA, and his wrestling pedigree predates his fighting career entirely.
Why it matters
- Both men rank among the more accomplished wrestlers to compete at the UFC level, giving the match legitimate technical credibility
- The freestyle ruleset strips away striking and submissions, placing Covington's volume wrestling against Weidman's foundational amateur background
- The event adds to a growing trend of combat sports crossover attractions drawing MMA audiences
- No weight class or specific ruleset details have been confirmed, leaving key competitive parameters still open
