Covington cancels bout with Muhammad after press scuffle

A planned championship wrestling match between Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad is in serious doubt after Covington publicly declared he would not face his rival, citing a lack of professionalism following a physical altercation. The controversy stems from an incident at a post-event press conference this past Saturday, July 18, following the Real American Freestyle (RAF) 11 event in Milwaukee.

Covington, a former UFC interim welterweight champion, had just won the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover title by defeating UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan with a 5-3 score in the main event. In the co-main event, former UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad earned a 6-3 decision victory over Ben Askren, who was competing for the first time since undergoing a double lung transplant in 2025 and subsequently announced his retirement.

Tensions between the two welterweights, who have traded insults for years, boiled over during the subsequent press conference. According to witnesses and video, Muhammad threw a kick at Covington before security intervened. Muhammad later explained his actions, stating he was provoked by Covington's persistent verbal attacks, including past comments about...