Kamaru Usman answers Colby Covington’s RAF challenge with throwback quote from UFC rivalry

Kamaru Usman has responded to Colby Covington’s callout with a retro quote from his intense feud with “Chaos.”

There is certainly history between Usman and Covington. The two engaged in a heated war of words before first meeting inside the Octagon in late 2019. It was a memorable bout that ended with Usman breaking Covington’s jaw on his way to a fifth-round TKO finish. The rematch took place in Nov. 2021 and Usman scored a unanimous decision victory.

Fast forward to 2026 and Covington still wants a piece of Usman, but this time on the wrestling mat. During an interview with Bloody Elbow, Covington called for a RAF showdown with “The Nigerian Nightmare.”

“I’d like to see Usman in Real American Freestyle,” Covington said, targeting his UFC rival. “We need to do this. We need to settle the trilogy in Real American Freestyle, so that’s what I’m proposing here today. If Usman doesn’t get the [UFC] title shot [against Islam Makhachev], come see daddy at Real American Freestyle, and let’s do this trilogy, b*tch.”

Usman was well aware of Covington’s callout and he appears to be quite receptive to the idea. He took to his X account to respond to his old rival.

“‘I Br@ke Your Face,'” Usman wrote. “@ColbyCovMMA @RAFWrestlingUSA #SeeYouSoonBoi.”

Covington may be down on his luck inside the Octagon, going 1-3 in his last four outings, but he has some new life with freestyle wrestling under RAF. He recently earned a dominant win over former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold. Many fans took note of how Covington appeared to be in his element for the first time in several years.

Whether or not that would be enough to best his longtime rival on the mat remains to be seen.

Would a RAF battle between Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman intrigue you? Let us know in the comments below.