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'He's a quitter': Colby Covington vows to 'break' Khamzat Chimaev in RAF title match

Colby Covington, now 38, is shifting his focus entirely to freestyle wrestling after retiring from MMA in May, where he had previously held the interim UFC welterweight title. His latest challenge comes on November 14 in Abu Dhabi, where he will face former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in a Real American Freestyle (RAF) title bout.

Covington, undefeated in five RAF matches, has dismissed Chimaev as a significant threat, claiming his lack of endurance and past struggles against jiu-jitsu specialists make him an easy target. "He’s a quitter," Covington stated, emphasizing his confidence in outlasting Chimaev on the mat over six minutes.

While Covington has expressed a preference for keeping future matches in the U.S., he accepted this fight abroad to continue delivering high-quality wrestling matches to fans. The matchup carries added tension, as Covington has a history of verbal sparring with Chimaev, who has previously clashed physically with opponents and their teams over perceived insults.

Chimaev, meanwhile, has won his first three RAF fights, including victories over UFC veterans Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns, but Covington remains focused on securing another win in his new discipline.

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