Colby Covington has announced he is pulling out of his booked cruiserweight crossover championship match against Belal Muhammad at RAF 12 on Aug. 22 in Cleveland. Covington, who won the RAF cruiserweight title by defeating Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11, cited Muhammad's conduct at the post-fight press conference — where Muhammad threw a kick at him before being separated by security — as the reason for his decision. Invoking his status as a shareholder in the promotion, Covington said he made an "executive decision" to move away from the matchup, calling Muhammad unprofessional and not a needle-mover.
Colby Covington has withdrawn from his scheduled cruiserweight crossover championship bout against Belal Muhammad at RAF 12, which had been set for August 22 in Cleveland. Covington announced the decision on July 20, citing an incident at the RAF 11 post-fight press conference in which Muhammad threw a kick at him before security intervened to separate the two men.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and recently claimed the RAF cruiserweight title by defeating Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11. Known as "Chaos," the five-foot-eleven American out of MMA Masters averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, reflecting the relentless wrestling-based pressure that has defined his career. Invoking his status as a shareholder in the promotion, Covington framed the withdrawal as an "executive decision," calling Muhammad unprofessional and suggesting he is not a needle-mover for the event.
Muhammad, also 38, holds a record of 24-5 and is ranked sixth in the welterweight division with a top-ten pound-for-pound standing. "Remember the Name" stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and fights out of Roufusport. He averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 43 percent accuracy and adds 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat.
Tsarukyan, 29, who suffered the loss to Covington at RAF 11, is the number-one ranked lightweight in MMA at 23-3. The Russian standout out of American Top Team lands strikes at 50 percent accuracy — a notably sharp figure — and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The RAF 12 cruiserweight crossover title bout is now without a champion willing to compete, leaving a significant card hole for the August 22 Cleveland event.
- Covington's use of his shareholder role to justify a competitive decision raises questions about the governance structure at RAF.
- Muhammad, a top-ten pound-for-pound fighter, is left without an opponent after a public altercation that Covington used as justification for his exit.
