Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 19

RAF Books Muhammad-Covington for August 12 Match as Press Conference Brawl Erupts

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 19

RAF Books Muhammad-Covington for August 12 Match as Press Conference Brawl Erupts

Q: Is Belal Muhammad pivoting to pro-wrestling theatrics after his confirmed downfall in the UFC?

No. The available facts show Belal Muhammad is dealing with a real competitive slide in MMA, but they do not show a genuine move into pro-wrestling-style performance. Muhammad’s UFC downturn is well established. He was UFC welterweight champion in 2024, lost the belt in May 2025, and has since fallen to three straight UFC defeats, most recently against Gabriel Bonfim in June 2026. That supports the idea of a confirmed decline in results. But the RAF 11 incident points more to combat-sports rivalry than to a career pivot into scripted entertainment. Muhammad competed in a wrestling-based crossover event and beat Ben Askren on points. The post-fight chaos with Colby Covington came after a feud that had already turned personal, with Covington insulting Muhammad and his family before the event and then calling him out again afterward. Covington’s persona is the more overtly theatrical one. He has long cultivated a heel-style image, and his line, “The champ does what the champ wants,” fits that pattern. That does not by itself mean Muhammad is entering pro wrestling or adopting a worked, character-driven format. The stronger reading is that Muhammad is crossing into competitive wrestling events while carrying over an MMA grudge. Nothing in the reporting shows he is leaving legitimate competition for scripted pro-wrestling theatrics. At most, he is participating in the kind of promotional drama that often surrounds fight sports, especially when Covington is involved.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 19

RAF announced Belal Muhammad and Colby Covington will meet in the co-main event of RAF 12 in Cleveland next month after their RAF 11 press conference descended into a melee.
Muhammad challenged Covington after beating Ben Askren on points in Askren’s retirement wrestling match, then accused him of facing a lightweight after Covington won the inaugural RAF crossover title over Arman Tsarukyan.
The confrontation turned physical when Covington threatened to smack Muhammad; Muhammad charged, threw a glancing kick, and Covington rushed back before security and team members separated them.
The clash extended a years-long feud from their UFC days, where both fought at welterweight but never met in an official bout.
RAF now heads into its August Cleveland card with a newly formalized matchup and fresh bad blood generated in public.