Khamzat Chimaev faces Chris Weidman at RAF Abu Dhabi after Covington withdraws

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Khamzat Chimaev has a new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi | Photo via RAF Khamzat Chimaev will now wrestle former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman after Colby Covington withdrew from Saturday’s RAF 14 main event in Abu Dhabi, the promotion announced Monday. RAF did not disclose what led to Covington’s withdrawal, but Chimaev took a shot at the former UFC interim welterweight champion on social media. Covington was on a five-match winning streak in RAF but recently tapped out to a rear-naked choke in grappling against UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. Colbi is not coming, he is scared — Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 9, 2026 The RAF light heavyweight crossover championship will be on the line for Chimaev vs. Weidman at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Chimaev was dominant in four straight wrestling matches since June, defeating Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns and Robbie Lawler. He now takes on Weidman while awaiting his next UFC assignment. Weidman appeared once under the RAF banner, losing a decision to Covington back in May. That was his first competition since losing a grappling match to Patrick Downey in mid-2025. Check the updated RAF Abu Dhabi lineup below. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Chris Weidman Arman Tsarukyan vs. Neiman Gracie Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Giga Chikadze Abdulrashid Sadulaev vs. Dauren Kurugliev Kyle Dake vs. Alp Arslan Begenjov Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Urijah Faber Jordan Burroughs vs. Azamat Nurykau Kyle Snyder vs. Shamil Erdogan Murtaza Talha vs. Osama Elsaidy Diana Avsaragova vs. Julianna Peña Merab Dvalishvili vs. Marlon Moraes Zahid Valencia vs. Khidir Saipudinov Kennedy Blades vs. Bella Mir