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's record stands at 16-8 overall and 12-8 in the UFC. The match will take place at a professional freestyle wrestling tournament, marking a departure from traditional MMA competition for both fighters. Both athletes have extensive wrestling backgrounds from their pre-MMA careers. This crossover event continues the trend of MMA fighters competing in grappling and wrestling matches outside the cage.
Colby Covington and Chris Weidman are set to square off in a professional wrestling match at RAF 09 on May 30, stepping outside the MMA cage to compete in a freestyle wrestling tournament.
Covington, 38, carries a 17-5 overall MMA record with a 12-5 mark inside the UFC. Fighting out of MMA Masters and standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, "Chaos" has built his reputation on relentless pressure and elite wrestling. His UFC numbers reflect that foundation, with 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking output of 3.81 significant strikes landed per minute.
Weidman, nicknamed "The All-American," brings a 16-8 overall record and a 12-8 UFC ledger to the mat. The 42-year-old trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach. His MMA career has long showcased his wrestling credentials, averaging 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his nickname alone signals how central the discipline has been to his identity as a fighter.
Both men built their pre-MMA foundations through competitive wrestling, making this crossover event a natural, if unconventional, extension of their athletic backgrounds.
Why it matters
- Covington and Weidman represent two of the UFC's most decorated wrestling-based fighters, giving this match genuine competitive credibility
- The event continues a growing trend of high-profile MMA athletes testing themselves in standalone grappling and wrestling competitions outside the cage
- With both fighters in the later stages of their MMA careers, the RAF 09 appearance offers a different competitive outlet that plays directly to their core skill sets
