Belal Muhammad Eyes Colby Covington Clash After RAF 11

Belal Muhammad has called out Colby Covington following RAF 11, making clear he wants the welterweight clash on the wrestling mats and delivering a pointed quip that while he cannot slap Covington, he can slam him on his head.

Muhammad, 38, carries a 24-5-0 record and currently sits sixth in the welterweight rankings and eighth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Chicago-born Roufusport product is an orthodox fighter standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach. He averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute alongside 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes, a combination that makes him dangerous in both phases of a fight. His callout came after he reacted publicly to Kamaru Usman's appearance at UFC OKC.

Covington, nicknamed Chaos, enters any potential matchup with a 17-5-0 record at the age of 38. The MMA Masters product is also five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, and his wrestling-heavy style is reflected in his 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes — a rate that ranks among the highest in the division. His striking accuracy sits at 38 percent on 3.81 significant strikes landed per minute.

Usman, whose appearance at UFC OKC appeared to prompt Muhammad's comments, holds a 21-4-0 record and sits eighth in the welterweight division at age 39. The former champion owns a notable 52 percent striking accuracy and a 76-inch reach out of his six-foot frame.

Why it matters

• Muhammad is ranked sixth at welterweight, so a win over a recognizable name like Covington carries real divisional weight.
• Both men are elite-level wrestlers, setting up a potential grappling-centered contest with high-volume striking on the feet.
• Usman's presence at UFC OKC adds an undercurrent of former-champion politics to the welterweight landscape heading into this callout.