Belal Muhammad is gearing up for a highly anticipated matchup against Colby Covington at the upcoming Real American Freestyle (RAF) 13 event, scheduled for September 19 in Miami, Florida. Muhammad, a top contender in the welterweight division, has long expressed skepticism regarding Covington's toughness and skill level, and he sees this match as an opportunity to finally prove his point.
Despite Covington's impressive background in wrestling and his time in the UFC, Muhammad believes that Covington's persona as a tough fighter is merely a façade. The two fighters have been on a collision course for years, but their paths have not crossed in the octagon due to various circumstances. Covington's recent retirement from mixed martial arts has made a traditional MMA fight between them unlikely, but the emergence of the RAF promotion has opened a new avenue for competition.
In a recent interview, Muhammad expressed his determination to dominate Covington in the wrestling arena, stating, "I want to go out there, dominate him in just straight-up wrestling, and then show, like I’ve been calling, I’ve been saying it, and I’ve been showing you guys that this dude sucks." He is confident that he can expose Covington's weaknesses and ultimately make him "cry" in the ring.
The rivalry intensified when Muhammad attempted to confront Covington at a recent RAF press conference, leading to a brief scuffle between the two. Initially, Covington claimed that the match was off due to Muhammad's antics, but he later retracted his statement, confirming their bout at RAF 13. Muhammad has not shied away from criticizing Covington, labeling him a coward and suggesting that he has avoided facing him in the past.
Muhammad's disdain for Covington's bravado is evident, as he remarked, "At his core, like, he could play this whole charade of, ‘I’m this beast, I know how to talk, and yada, yada, yada,’ but at his core, he’s just like a girl in a ballerina dress." This sentiment underscores Muhammad's belief that Covington's bravado does not match his true capabilities.
Covington, a former All-American wrestler at Oregon State University, has transitioned to the RAF with a perfect record of 4-0 since his return to wrestling. He recently captured the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship, defeating Arman Tsarukyan by points in July. However, Muhammad is not impressed by Covington's recent opponents, arguing that they were not up to par, and he sees himself as the toughest challenge Covington has faced to date.
As the date of their match approaches, Muhammad is eager to demonstrate his wrestling prowess and validate his long-held belief that Covington is not the formidable competitor he claims to be. "I think the world knows Colby is a coward, right?" Muhammad stated. He is ready to step onto the mat and prove that he can out-wrestle Covington, challenging the narrative that Covington is the best wrestler in MMA. The stakes are high as both fighters prepare to settle their rivalry at RAF 13, and fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be an exciting showdown.
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