RAF 13: Covington-Muhammad Headlines Miami Card Sept. 18

Colby Covington will defend his RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship against Belal Muhammad on Sept. 18, 2026, headlining RAF 13 at the Watsco Center in Miami. The full 12-fight card for Real American Freestyle's return to Florida is now set, and it pairs some of the biggest names to ever cross over from the UFC cage into freestyle wrestling.

Covington, the former interim UFC welterweight champion, meets Muhammad, the former UFC welterweight titleholder, at 190 pounds with the cruiserweight strap on the line. The card streams live on FOXNation starting at 8 p.m. ET.

What's the co-main event at RAF 13?

The co-main event pits Khamzat Chimaev against Gilbert Burns in a catchweight bout, running back a rivalry that started in the Octagon years ago. Both men have already logged time on RAF's mat this year, and this booking gives fight fans a second look at a pairing with real history, this time under freestyle rules rather than in an MMA cage.

Three more titles are up for grabs on the undercard. Kennedy Blades defends the RAF Women's Middleweight Championship against Diana Avsaragova at 150 pounds. Austin DeSanto puts the RAF Bantamweight Championship on the line against Arsen Harutyunyan at 135 pounds. Jason Nolf defends the RAF Middleweight Championship against Julian Ramirez at 175 pounds. Johnni DiJulius and Cayden Henschel meet at 145 pounds for the inaugural RAF Featherweight Crossover Championship.

The rest of the lineup mixes well known MMA names with established freestyle wrestlers: Luke Rockhold against Joe Pyfer at 215 pounds, Michael Caliendo against Timur Bizhoev at 165 pounds, Georgios Kougioumtsidis against Chance Marsteller at 190 pounds, Bryce Meredith against Movlid Khaybulaev at 165 pounds, Haji Aliyev against Jacori Teemer at 155 pounds, and a catchweight bout between Mugzy and Real Tarzann.

Why does Covington vs. Muhammad matter for RAF?

Covington enters as the promotion's most accomplished crossover star, having won the inaugural version of this title and built an unbeaten run inside RAF since jumping over from the UFC. Muhammad brings a name and resume that instantly makes this the biggest test of that title reign. For a promotion still building its national profile, putting two former UFC welterweight champions on top of the same freestyle card is the clearest sign yet that RAF wants to keep raiding elite MMA rosters rather than sticking strictly to college wrestling pedigree.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks treat these RAF crossover bouts more like prop-heavy novelty matches than standard combat sports lines, since the format rewards mat control and scramble scoring rather than power or finishing ability. Covington's edge here is volume of reps in this exact rule set, he has already adjusted his approach across multiple RAF outings, while Muhammad is walking into freestyle wrestling against a proven grinder for the first time. Bettors leaning toward Covington are largely betting on system familiarity, not raw pedigree. Expect the Chimaev-Burns line to move sharply once oddsmakers weigh Chimaev's freestyle background against Burns' jiu-jitsu heavy game translating awkwardly to a discipline built on takedowns and positional scoring rather than submissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is RAF 13: Covington vs. Muhammad?

RAF 13 takes place Saturday, Sept. 18, 2026, at the Watsco Center in Miami, Florida, with the broadcast on FOXNation starting at 8 p.m. ET.

What title is on the line in Covington vs. Muhammad?

Colby Covington defends the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship against Belal Muhammad in the main event at 190 pounds.

Who else is fighting on the RAF 13 card?

The co-main event is a catchweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns, and the card also features title fights involving Kennedy Blades, Austin DeSanto, Jason Nolf, and Johnni DiJulius.