Hamzat Chimaev vs. Colby Covington in works for RAF promotion

Hamzat Chimaev may have let something slip. In what appeared to be an unscripted moment, Chimaev revealed that a welterweight clash between himself and Colby Covington is in the works under the RAF promotion banner — then quickly acknowledged he had spoken too soon. RAF owner Izzy Martinez, who was seated alongside Chimaev at the time, responded with laughter and a pat on the shoulder, suggesting the matchup is real but not yet ready to be public. Nothing has been officially announced, and the fight should be treated as unconfirmed for now.

Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and has long been one of the welterweight division's most polarizing figures. Fighting out of MMA Masters, the American orthodox striker lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, a combination of volume and wrestling pressure that has defined his style throughout his career. His reach of 72 inches at five-foot-eleven gives him a compact but effective frame at 170 pounds.

Chimaev, whose verified data was not included in the database entry, has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight and middleweight divisions in recent years, with a near-flawless record and a physically punishing style that blends wrestling with heavy striking.

Why it matters

• Covington is a former interim UFC welterweight champion and a perennial contender, making any matchup involving him a divisional event
• A fight under the RAF promotion banner rather than the UFC would be a notable development in the ongoing landscape of rival MMA organizations
• Chimaev's admission and Martinez's reaction suggest real planning is underway, even if no date or contract has been confirmed
• The style matchup — Covington's relentless pressure and wrestling versus Chimaev's physical dominance — would carry significant competitive intrigue at 170 pounds