Chris Weidman is set to make his RAF debut in a high-profile co-main event against Colby Covington at RAF 09 on Saturday at the College Park Center in Dallas.
Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion, will meet Covington, who enters the bout 2-0 in RAF with wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. The matchup pits Covington’s early RAF momentum against Weidman’s extensive wrestling background.
Discussing Covington’s previous outings, Weidman said, "I watched his two matches that he had with Rockhold and Dillon Danis," and added, "He has a decent single leg. I think he's tough. He was a great wrestler when he was competing, and I think he's a goer, and I'm a goer, as well."
Weidman believes his own grappling pedigree presents a new level of challenge for Covington. "I love putting a pace on and trying to get guys tired and break them. He's tough. He's 2-0. I will say I don't think Dillon Danis and Luke Rockhold are on my level respectfully in terms of wrestling at all. So, I do think I'm a big step up in competition for him, and I appreciate him calling me out and wanting a tougher challenge."
Pointing to his freestyle and Greco-Roman experience, Weidman said, "If he wrestles with me, I think it's going to be really tough for him. I'm big, I'm strong, I'm good in a lot of different positions in wrestling. I have a lot of freestyle experience. I was a multiple-time All-American in freestyle and also Greco in high school, then I was training for the Olympics in 2008."
