Chris Weidman Steps In On Short Notice To Replace Colby Covington Against Khamzat Chimaev

Colby Covington was booked to defend his cruiserweight crossover title against Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi this Saturday at Etihad Arena. That fight is no longer happening. Covington withdrew from the main event a few days before the card due to an injury, with the nature of the problem not publicly disclosed. The promotion moved quickly. Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has agreed to step in on short notice, with the bout now contested for the light heavyweight crossover championship. It is Weidman’s first time competing in Abu Dhabi. He is 42 years old and has already confirmed he is taking the fight.

What RAF Is and Why This Card Matters

RAF is a combat sports crossover league that blends wrestling and mixed martial arts backgrounds on the same card, drawing competitors from both worlds onto one stage. The Abu Dhabi event is its third international card in its first year, following events in Tbilisi and Moscow, and comes with a five-year partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi behind it. Chimaev is competing at home in the UAE. He and Covington were both undefeated in RAF heading into the original matchup, and the cruiserweight crossover title gave the bout genuine stakes. The switch to Weidman keeps the main event intact but changes the dynamic considerably. Chimaev had been preparing for a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler with heavyweight wrestling credentials. Weidman is a different kind of opponent.

Weidman’s Background in Grappling

The short-notice call makes more sense when you consider Weidman’s résumé. He is a former NCAA Division I wrestler who went on to submit Anderson Silva twice and win the UFC middleweight title. His grappling background is legitimate and his willingness to take the fight on days’ notice fits his career history of accepting difficult matchups. At 42, he is not the fighter he was during his peak years at 185 pounds, but on the mat against Chimaev in a crossover format, he is not a placeholder either. The fight is this Saturday.