The RAF 11 press conference turned into a real fight after the wrestling was over.
Belal Muhammad and Colby Covington had spent the buildup trading barbs, and it boiled over Saturday night in Milwaukee once both men had their hands raised. In the main event, Covington handed Arman Tsarukyan his first loss in any discipline since 2022, outpointing the Armenian. Muhammad, meanwhile, dug out of a 3-0 hole to beat the returning Ben Askren, who had a double lung transplant a year ago.
With both winners seated at the top table alongside RAF officials including Chad Bronstein and Eric Bischoff, the trash talk never cooled. Muhammad rode Covington throughout his victory speech until Covington snapped and told him to “shut the f— up.” From there it escalated fast.
Muhammad made the first move across the stage. Bronstein tried to wedge himself between the two, but Muhammad threw a kick over him at Covington that set off a full scramble, with both camps spilling onto the stage. Officials pulled the pair apart before anything serious happened, then finished the press conference without them.
The real headline is what it sets up. Covington holds RAF gold, and the two former UFC welterweight titleholders now appear pointed toward a showdown, with Muhammad making it clear all week that Covington, not Askren, was the man he actually wanted.
