Covington Turns Down Strickland Over 10-Pound Gap

Colby Covington turned down a Real American Freestyle wrestling match with Sean Strickland after the two sides could not agree on a weight for the crossover bout, MMA Mania reports.

RAF initially pursued Covington against the reigning UFC middleweight champion for its October 23 card at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Strickland pushed for a 200-pound catchweight. Covington, who won RAF's cruiserweight crossover belt earlier this year at welterweight size, wanted 190 pounds. The 10-pound gap proved too wide to bridge, and Covington passed on the fight.

Chimaev Steps In For Abu Dhabi Title Shot

With Covington unwilling to move up, RAF pivoted to Khamzat Chimaev. The promotion announced that Chimaev will challenge Covington for the cruiserweight crossover championship on November 14 in Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena. Chimaev first faces UFC Hall of Famer Robbie Lawler on the Vegas card before getting his title opportunity three weeks later.

Covington remains unbeaten across five RAF appearances, with wins over Arman Tsarukyan, Belal Muhammad, Chris Weidman, Dillon Danis and Luke Rockhold. Chimaev is 3-0 on the wrestling mats, stopping Danis, Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns. Strickland, who defeated Chimaev for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328, will have to wait for his RAF debut.

Chimaev meets Lawler in Las Vegas on October 23 before the Abu Dhabi title fight.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Exclusive: Khamzat scored RAF 15 title fight because timid Colby Covington turned down UFC’s most polarizing champion