Colby Covington and Chris Weidman will compete in a professional wrestling match at RAF 09 on May 30. Covington holds a 17-5 overall MMA record with a 12-5 UFC record, while Weidman stands at 16-8 overall and 12-8 in the UFC. This will be a departure from MMA competition as both fighters engage in a pure wrestling format. The event represents a crossover opportunity for both UFC veterans to showcase their grappling credentials outside of mixed martial arts. Further details about the wrestling ruleset or weight class have not been specified.
Two of the UFC's most accomplished grapplers will step outside the cage and onto the wrestling mat when Colby Covington faces Chris Weidman in a professional wrestling match at RAF 09 on May 30.
Covington, 38, carries a 17-5 MMA record with a 12-5 mark inside the UFC, all compiled under the banner of MMA Masters. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, "Chaos" has built his reputation on relentless wrestling pressure, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career — one of the higher rates among active welterweights.
Weidman, 42, brings a 16-8 overall record and a 12-8 UFC ledger to the match. The Serra-Longo Fight Team product stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and answers to "The All-American" — a nickname rooted in his decorated collegiate wrestling background. He averages 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, underscoring why he remains credible in any grappling context even at this stage of his career.
Why it matters
- Both men bring legitimate Division I wrestling pedigrees into a format that strips away striking, giving the contest a pure test-of-grappling dynamic.
- Covington's takedown volume and Weidman's size and reach advantage set up an intriguing stylistic contrast on the mat.
- The matchup offers a crossover platform for two UFC veterans to remain active and visible outside traditional MMA competition.
- No specific ruleset or weight class has been confirmed for the bout, leaving key structural details still to be announced ahead of the May 30 event.
