Colby Covington has reportedly scrapped his scheduled Real American Freestyle grappling match with Belal Muhammad, citing his status as an RAF shareholder and arguing that Muhammad’s press conference outburst proved he cannot compete professionally.
Covington told Submission Radio that he personally made the call to shelve the bout less than a day after it was booked for RAF 12.
The two were set to headline RAF 12 in Cleveland on August 22, a matchup framed as a grudge match on the wrestling mats. That plan followed a chaotic scene at the RAF 11 post-fight press conference in Milwaukee, where Covington and Muhammad had to be separated after a brawl broke out.
Covington laid out his reasoning in blunt terms, pointing to Muhammad’s behavior on stage as the reason he pulled the plug.
I made an executive decision. I went and talked to the brass. I’m a shareholder in RAF, so I make these kinds of decisions,” Covington said. “We’re going to move away from the Belal matchup. He showed that he can’t be a professional.
Covington claimed Muhammad played to the crowd at the podium before turning aggressive.
First off, he’s on the mic at the post-fight press conference, he’s claiming to be a man of the people, ‘Oh, I care about the kids, I want to be a good example, I’m sorry I cussed,’ and then the next second he stands up and throws a soccer kick at me and runs across the stage to try and attack me like a freaking filthy animal,” Covington said.
He added that Muhammad’s status did not justify the booking.
Let’s be honest, he’s not a star, he doesn’t move the needle, so he’s not going to give me more incentive on this belt.
The decision comes after Covington became the first man to beat Arman Tsarukyan on the grappling mats at RAF 11, a result consistent with reporting that he won 5-3. Covington retired from mixed martial arts on May 19, 2026, closing out a UFC run at 12-5 before pivoting to the grappling promotion.
Who Colby Covington Wants Instead
Covington rattled off a five-man wish list to replace Muhammad at RAF 12, saying RAF is targeting “big draws only.” His preferred names:
- Arman Tsarukyan (rematch)
- Khamzat Chimaev
- Tyron Woodley
- Michael Chandler
- Kamaru Usman
A Tsarukyan rematch tops the list.
Arman deserves the rematch. If Arman wants the rematch, we’re going to do the rematch. I’m going to back it up. I’m going to prove that I’m the best wrestler on the planet,” Covington said.
He also floated a third meeting with Usman.
Usman trilogy needs to happen,” Covington said, before adding that Usman would need time to recover from a recent loss. “When he does get his wounds healed up, he can come get a chance at this belt, and no one’s taking this belt off me.
