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RAF 13: Covington vs. Muhammad Grudge Match in Miami

Real American Freestyle returns under the lights of the Watsco Center in Miami tonight, and it’s not easing back in. RAF 13 arrives with a grudge match at the top of the bill, a string of title fights, and a card stacked with familiar UFC names stepping back onto the mats.

Covington vs. Muhammad: Grudge on the Ground

At 190 pounds, Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad collide for the RAF Cruiserweight crossover championship, a bout loaded with history and hostility. Both men come in with UFC welterweight pedigrees: Covington, the former title challenger built on relentless pressure and pace; Muhammad, the former champion whose game has long been defined by discipline and suffocating control.

Now they strip it back to the roots. No cage, no gloves. Just wrestling, pride, and a belt that promises bragging rights in a rivalry that has simmered for years. For Covington, it’s a chance to reclaim relevance in a new arena. For Muhammad, it’s about proving his championship credentials translate anywhere.

Chimaev vs. Burns: Old Foes, New Terms

The co-main event at catchweight sees Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns renew a familiar tension. Their UFC clash was a brutal, high-pace war. Tonight, the chaos is channeled into pure grappling.

Chimaev, the former UFC Middleweight champion, brings raw aggression and explosive transitions. Burns, a former UFC title challenger and world-class grappler, brings experience and guile. Their styles don’t blend; they collide. Every scramble will feel like a fistfight without the punches.

Rockhold, Pyfer and a Card Full of Stakes

Joe Pyfer, a rising UFC Middleweight contender, makes his RAF debut against former UFC champion Luke Rockhold at 215 pounds. It’s a compelling contrast: Pyfer’s surging momentum and physicality against Rockhold’s veteran savvy and technical base. One man looks to announce himself in this format; the other fights to prove he’s not yesterday’s news.

RAF 13 isn’t leaning on names alone. It’s built around belts and consequence:

  • At 150 lbs, Kennedy Blades meets Diana Avsaragova for the RAF Women’s Middleweight Championship, a showcase of high-level athleticism and attacking intent.
  • The 135 lbs RAF Bantamweight Championship is on the line as Austin DeSanto faces Arsen Harutyunyan, a match-up that promises a frantic pace from the opening whistle.
  • Jason Nolf defends or hunts gold at 175 lbs against Julian Ramirez for the RAF Middleweight Championship, a bout likely to be decided on chain wrestling and gas tank.

Supporting bouts deepen the competitive edge of the card:

  • 165 lbs: Michael Caliendo vs. Timur Bizhoev
  • 190 lbs: Georgios Kougioumtsidis vs. Chance Marsteller
  • 165 lbs: Bryce Meredith vs. Movlid Khaybulaev

Each pairing offers a different flavor of wrestling, from slick leg attacks to grinding rides that test resolve as much as skill.

Early Results: Pins, Points, and a New Champion

The action has already delivered clear statements on the mat.

At 145 lbs, Cayden Henschel claimed the RAF Featherweight Crossover Championship with a composed, authoritative performance, defeating Johnni DiJulius on points, 7–2. Henschel controlled the tempo, built a lead, and never let it slip.

At 155 lbs, Jacori Teemer outworked Haji Aliyev in a 9–6 points win, a bout that swung on Teemer’s ability to turn scrambles into scoring opportunities when it mattered most.

Cesar Alvan produced one of the night’s standout finishes at 175 lbs, pinning Jeremiah Moody in the second period and underlining his threat as a closer, not just a technician.

In catchweight action, Mugzy also found a second-period pin against Real Tarzann, a result that underlined the unforgiving nature of this format: one mistake, one bad position, and the night is over.

Miami Stage, National Spotlight

RAF 13 goes live at 8 p.m. ET, streaming exclusively on FOX Nation, with the Watsco Center serving as a loud, unforgiving backdrop. The card has the feel of a crossover moment: UFC names stepping into wrestling’s purest form, prospects chasing titles, and established grapplers staking their claim in front of a wider audience.

By the end of the night, the question won’t just be who leaves with belts. It will be which star uses this Miami stage to redraw the lines of their entire combat sports career.

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