Description
For years Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington traded insults without ever facing each other. On November 14, 2026, that changes. The two meet in the main event of RAF's first Abu Dhabi show, with the Cruiserweight Crossover belt on the line. Tickets for RAF Abu Dhabi are listed on the event page, which also has a seating map of the arena.
Below is where the rivalry started, what the belt is, how RAF matches work and who else is announced. Where something has not been announced yet, the article says so.
Where the Chimaev–Covington feud comes from
The feud goes back to their UFC days. Press reports say that in 2023 Covington accused Chimaev of dodging a fight with him. That fight never happened: the two never met in the cage, and they had never wrestled each other either.
In March 2026 Chimaev wrote on X that he would humble the American at the next RAF event. Covington, according to media reports, said more than once that he wanted to wrestle Chimaev and was sure he could break him. Another trigger was Chimaev's loss to Sean Strickland at UFC on May 9, which Covington commented on by calling Chimaev mentally weak.
By then both men were already competing in RAF, so the only open question was when the league would put them on the same mat.
How Chimaev gave away the Abu Dhabi fight
For a while there was no official news, until Chimaev let details slip himself. At the pre-fight press conference for RAF 13 in September he said the two would now probably wrestle in Abu Dhabi, then admitted he might have said it too early. Izzy Martinez, one of the key people at RAF, sat next to him and only smirked.
A few days later, on September 21, the league announced a five-year partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling Federation. The first event is the November 14 show at Etihad Arena, with Chimaev named as headliner from the start. The opponent was not revealed at that point, and the league confirmed the fight with Covington at the end of September.
It is RAF's third international event in its first year after Tbilisi and Moscow, and its first show in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi is already familiar to combat sports fans, since UFC events are held there regularly.
Covington vs Chimaev at RAF: the Cruiserweight Crossover belt and the rules
The belt they are fighting for is the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship. It is a special title for athletes who came to wrestling from other sports, including former UFC fighters, and it sits outside the league's regular weight rankings. Covington became the first champion in July by beating Arman Tsarukyan 5-3 at RAF 11. In September he made his first defense, winning a 10-0 technical fall over Belal Muhammad.
So in Abu Dhabi Covington comes in as champion, and Chimaev has to take the belt from him.
The rules also set this apart from a cage fight. RAF mostly uses UWW freestyle rules, with two noticeable differences. A match has three two-minute periods instead of two periods of three minutes. And if the score is tied, the wrestler who scored last wins. In regular international wrestling the tie-break looks first at the value of the moves and then at cautions. For viewers, that means a match can be decided by one last point in the closing seconds.
What Chimaev and Covington bring to the mat: their RAF records
Both wrestlers arrive unbeaten in RAF. Chimaev has three wins: Dillon Danis in June, Tyron Woodley at the Moscow show on September 5, and Gilbert Burns at RAF 13, where he won a 15-4 technical fall. Covington has five: Luke Rockhold, Danis, Chris Weidman, Tsarukyan and Muhammad. Covington beat Danis back in the spring, 14-4 at RAF 07, so the two share a common opponent.
Each man brings a different wrestling background. Chimaev is a three-time Swedish national wrestling champion and has competed under the UAE flag since 2023. Covington was a two-time NCAA All-American and won the interim UFC welterweight title in 2018.
There is a personal thread as well. Tsarukyan, whom Covington beat in July, is a close friend and training partner of Chimaev. Covington said he wanted to wrestle Tsarukyan first and Chimaev after that.
Who else is announced for RAF in Abu Dhabi
The main event is not the whole card. The organizers have named Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev among the participants. Some opponents have not been announced yet, so it is worth checking the final card closer to the event.
Two more pairings are confirmed. Umar Nurmagomedov makes his RAF debut against Urijah Faber, and reigning RAF light heavyweight champion Kyle Snyder faces Shamil Erdogan, who is also making his league debut. Gulf News reported both bouts, citing the league's press release.
Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi: how to get tickets for the RAF event
The show takes place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. According to Visit Abu Dhabi, the arena holds up to 18,000 people, sits seven minutes from the international airport and 45 minutes from Dubai. Chimaev himself has said the arena is about five minutes from his home, which makes this a true home fight for him.
Ticket prices depend on the category and the section. On the event page you pick seats on an interactive arena map, where prices for different ticket categories are shown. According to the page, e-tickets are sent to your email after payment and you show a QR code at the entrance. Check the purchase and delivery terms before you pay.
Capacity is limited, so anyone planning to travel to Abu Dhabi for this event should look at tickets early. If you have decided to go, you can buy tickets for the RAF tournament on the event page. It is worth rechecking the date, start time and card the day before you travel.
Disclaimer: event dates, times and venues may change. Before buying tickets, it is recommended to check the current information.