// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did RAF 13 say to RAF 14? You're a number above the rest.
| RAF 13: Covington vs. Muhammad | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for RAF 13: Covington vs. Muhammad | ||||
| Promotion | Real American Freestyle | |||
| Date | September 18, 2026 | |||
| Venue | Watsco Center | |||
| City | Miami, Florida | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
RAF 13: Covington vs. Muhammad was a freestyle wrestling event produced by the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion that took place on September 18, 2026, at the Watsco Center in Miami, Florida.[1][2][3][4]
Background
[edit]RAF returned to Miami for the first time since RAF 05 in January 2026.
A RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship bout between current champion Colby Covington (also former interim UFC Welterweight Champion) and former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad headlined the event.[5] The bout was originally scheduled for RAF 12 on August 22, 2026, but was shifted to headline this event due to scheduling changes within the promotion.[6][7]
A catchweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev and former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger Gilbert Burns served as the co-main event.[8] They previously fought in mixed martial arts at UFC 273, a bout which many media outlets, including UFC CEO Dana White, called "Fight of the Year." Chimaev won that contest by unanimous decision.[9][10]
Three other championship bouts took place at the event:
- A RAF Middleweight Championship bout between current champion Jason Nolf and Julian Ramirez. Nolf previously defeated Ramirez by technical fall in April 2023 at the "2023 US Open National Championships".
- A RAF Featherweight Crossover Championship bout for the inaugural title between Johnni DiJulius and Cayden Henschel.
- A RAF Women's Middleweight Championship bout between current champion Kennedy Blades and Diana Avsaragova. They previously was scheduled to meet at RAF 12, but Avsaragova withdrew.
- A RAF Bantamweight Championship bout between current champion Austin DeSanto and Arsen Harutyunyan.
A RAF Heavyweight Championship bout between reigning champion Wyatt Hendrickson and Greg Kerkvliet was scheduled for the event.[11] However, due to the injury of one of the athletes, the bout was postponed.[12] Hendrickson defeated Kerkvliet in April 2026 at the 2026 US Open National Championships via technical fall, but previously lost to Kerkvliet at the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials. Furthermore, Hendrickson and Kerkvliet also met twice in college, with the pair splitting those matches as well.[11]
A catchweight bout between Larry Wheels and Michael Holston was originally scheduled for this event. However, Wheels withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Keelon "Mugzy" Jimison.[13]
RAF Undiscovered 1 winner Jeremiah Moody faced Cesar Alvan in a middleweight bout.[14]
Fight card
[edit]| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Cruiserweight |  Colby Covington (c) |
def. |  Belal Muhammad |
Technical fall (10-0) | 2 | 1:23 | [a] |
| Catchweight |  Khamzat Chimaev |
def. |  Gilbert Burns |
Technical fall (15-4) | 2 | 0:47 | |
| Women's Middleweight | Kennedy Blades (c) |
def. |  Diana Avsaragova |
Technical fall (12-0) | 1 | 1:49 | [b] |
| Bantamweight |  Arsen Harutyunyan |
def. | Austin DeSanto (c) |
Decision (6-3) | 3 | 2:00 | [c] |
| Welterweight | Timur Bizhoev |
def. | Michael Caliendo |
Decision (5-4) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Catchweight | Joe Pyfer |
def. | Luke Rockhold |
Technical fall (14-3) | 2 | 1:45 | |
| Middleweight | Jason Nolf (c) |
def. | Julian Ramirez |
Decision (7-6) | 3 | 2:00 | [d] |
| Cruiserweight | Chance Marsteller |
def. |  Georgios Kougioumtsidis |
Decision (8-6) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Welterweight | Bryce Meredith |
def. | Movlid Khaybulaev |
Decision (17-13) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Featherweight | Cayden Henschel |
def. | Johnni DiJulius |
Decision (7-2) | 3 | 2:00 | [e] |
| Lightweight | Jacori Teemer |
def. |  Haji Aliyev |
Decision (9-6) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Middleweight | Cesar Alvan |
def. | Jeremiah Moody |
Pinfall | 2 | 0:19 | |
| Catchweight | Keelon Jimison |
def. | Michael Holston |
Pinfall | 2 | 1:23 | |
- ↑ For the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Women's Middleweight Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Bantamweight Championship.
- ↑ For the RAF Middleweight Championship.
- ↑ For the inaugural RAF Featherweight Crossover Championship.
Bonus awards
[edit]The following athletes received bonuses.[15][16][17]
- Match of the Night: Keelon Jimison vs. Mike Holston
- Performance of the Night: Arsen Harutyunyan
- Flight of the Night: Chance Marsteller
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Real American Freestyle (2026-07-26). "RAF 13: Covington vs. Muhammad". realamericanfreestyle.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Donagh Corby (2026-07-25). "Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo book trilogy bout in RAF Wrestling next month after thrilling rematch". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Kyle Dimond (2026-07-21). "Colby Covington will face top-five UFC contender if Belal Muhammad grudge match doesn't happen next". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Matthew Wells (2026-07-25). "Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili rematch to headline RAF 12". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-07-27.
- ↑ Alexander Behunin (2026-07-19). "Bad blood! Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad added to RAF 12 on Aug. 22". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Mike Heck (2026-07-22). "RAF exec gives update on Colby Covington vs. Belal Muhammad match after RAF 11 post-event melee". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Donagh Corby (2026-07-18). "Arman Tsarukyan loses: Colby Covington defeats UFC star at RAF 11 for new belt in Milwaukee". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Jesse Holland (2026-09-02). "Rematch! Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns 2 set for RAF 13 in Miami". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ Jay Anderson (2022-04-10). "UFC 273: Khamzat Chimaev battles past Gilbert Burns in Fight of the Year candidate". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ UFC Staff (2023-01-16). "Dana White's UFC 2022 President's Choice Award Winners - UFC Honors". ufc.com. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- 1 2 Nick Kosko (2026-07-28). "Wyatt Hendrickson to defend Real American Freestyle heavyweight title vs. Greg Kerkvliet at RAF 13". yardbarker.com. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-09-09). "Hendrickson vs Kerkvliet is postponed due to athlete injury". x.com. Retrieved 2026-09-13.
- ↑ Real American Freestyle (2026-08-24). "MUGZY VS TARZANN IN MIAMI 👀 Larry Wheels is out due to injury. Mugzy will step in to face The Real Tarzann SEP 19 at #RAF13". x.com. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ "RAF Undiscovered 1 winner Jeremiah Moody faced Cesar Alvan". Retrieved 2026-09-18.
- ↑ "All grit". Retrieved 2026-09-19.
- ↑ "A statement from start to finish". Retrieved 2026-09-19.
- ↑ "Air Marsteller". Retrieved 2026-09-19.