Colby Covington and Chris Weidman will compete against each other in a professional freestyle wrestling match on May 30 at RAF 09. Covington brings a 17-5 overall MMA record with a 12-5 UFC mark, while Weidman's record stands at 16-8 overall and 12-8 in the UFC. Both fighters are former top contenders in their respective MMA divisions who have transitioned to this wrestling competition. The post does not provide details about weight class, rules format, or whether this is part of a larger card.
Colby Covington and Chris Weidman are set to face each other not inside an MMA cage but on the wrestling mat, with the two former UFC contenders booked for a professional freestyle wrestling match at RAF 09 on May 30.
Covington, known as "Chaos," enters the competition with a 17-5 overall MMA record and a 12-5 mark inside the UFC. The 38-year-old American, who trains out of MMA Masters, built his reputation as one of the sport's elite wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, Covington competed as a welterweight throughout his UFC tenure.
Weidman, nicknamed "The All-American," holds a 16-8 overall record and went 12-8 in the UFC across a career that included a memorable run as middleweight champion. Now 42, the Serra-Longo Fight Team product stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and averaged 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. His collegiate wrestling background was a defining element of his fighting identity throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Both men are credentialed wrestlers stepping into a dedicated wrestling format, making this a legitimate athletic contest rather than an exhibition
- Covington's higher takedown rate and younger age set up an intriguing contrast against Weidman's longer reach and decorated wrestling pedigree
- No weight class or rules format has been confirmed, leaving key details of the matchup still unclear ahead of the May 30 date
