Khamzat Chimaev gets Chris Weidman after Colby Covington exit

Khamzat Chimaev will face former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion Chris Weidman after an injury forced Colby Covington out of their scheduled wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14. Real American Freestyle announced the replacement Monday. The bout will headline the event at Etihad Arena, with the promotion’s light heavyweight crossover championship at stake. Chimaev was originally scheduled to challenge Covington for the cruiserweight crossover title. Chris Weidman replaces Colby Covington for Khamzat Chimaev's RAF Abu Dhabi wrestling title match on Nov. 14 Covington had won five consecutive RAF matches before withdrawing. His withdrawal follows a submission loss to UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. in a grappling contest at Hype FC in Rome on Nov. 3. Rosas secured a rear-naked choke in approximately 40 seconds. Chimaev, a former UFC middleweight champion, has earned RAF victories over Dillon Danis , Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns . He also defeated Robbie Lawler at RAF 14 in October. Weidman lost a decision to Covington in his only previous RAF appearance, at RAF 9 in May.