Muhammad Kicks Covington After RAF 12 Match Is Set for Aug. 22

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 · theScore · Jul 19

RAF officials announced at the Milwaukee postfight press conference that Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad will co-headline RAF 12 in a wrestling match on Aug. 22 in Cleveland.
Moments later, Muhammad threw a kick at Covington and the two had to be separated, with videos showing the scuffle erupting on stage.
The clash followed RAF 11 wins for both fighters: Covington beat Arman Tsarukyan in the main event, while Muhammad defeated Ben Askren in the co-headliner.
The altercation adds fresh heat to a rivalry now set to carry directly into their newly announced RAF 12 matchup.