Chris Weidman Steps In to Challenge Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi, Vows to Test Wrestling Prowess

Chris Weidman has issued a stern warning to Khamzat Chimaev, declaring himself to be the "hardest match he's ever had" after accepting a last-minute call to replace Colby Covington at RAF Abu Dhabi. The 42-year-old Weidman will headline the event at Etihad Arena this Saturday, stepping in after organizers confirmed Covington's withdrawal due to injury on Monday. This marks Real American Freestyle wrestling's inaugural event in the Middle East, following a five-year partnership agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling Federation.

Speaking on the podcast Deep Waters, Weidman acknowledged Chimaev as a "beast" but cautioned against underestimating him. "Most people are going to be picking against me for good reason because Chimaev is a beast. He’s super, but a great wrestler," Weidman told host Din Thomas. "I think I’m his hardest match he’s ever had with grappling and wrestling."

Weidman, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American who retired from professional MMA in January 2025, has prior experience in the RAF, having lost to Covington at RAF 9 in May. "I’ve never got thrown around by anybody in wrestling, in jiu-jitsu, in grappling, in the gym or in a fight in my life," he asserted. "At the end of the day, it’s still pretty damn hard to just have your way with me. We’ll find out how great Chimaev’s wrestling really is in this match. I promise you."

Originally slated to be part of the UFC's post-fight analysis team for UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York alongside Dustin Poirier, Weidman found the offer to compete in Abu Dhabi for the RAF Light Heavyweight Crossover Championship irresistible. "I wanted to be there for him [Poirier] for that, but man, RAF calls, the money looks good. I’m like, I’ve got to do it," he explained.

Khamzat Chimaev, who became a UAE citizen in 2025, is more widely recognized for his UFC career but has been participating in RAF wrestling events since losing his UFC middleweight title in May. Chimaev is an elite freestyle wrestler with an undefeated record of 27 bouts on the mats, three of which were under the RAF banner. He previously faced Weidman in the UFC, where Weidman famously defeated Anderson Silva in 2013 to end his record-breaking UFC middleweight title reign, successfully defending the championship three times.

When asked about his strategy against Chimaev, Weidman stated, "I’ll just take him down and attack him, really. They’re going to be hand-fighting heavy, that’s for sure. I don’t know what the hell’s going to happen."