Colby Covington is set to go for his first win since March 2022.
Covington remains one of the few ranked UFC fighters who has not stepped into the Octagon at any point in 2025.
The doctor called a halt to his last fight at UFC Tampa in the third round, resulting in a stoppage defeat against Joaquin Buckley, due to a cut above his eye.
Though he had planned to make his return late last year, targeting bouts in November or December, those plans did not materialise. But ‘Chaos’ is now scheduled to be back in action on January 10.
Colby Covington vs Luke Rockhold set to headline RAF 5 in January
Real American Freestyle (RAF) has become a popular spot for UFC names getting back into wrestling, and their line-up often includes familiar faces from the MMA world.
Their last event included Michael Chandler securing a win over Chad Mendes, and Joaquin Buckley – who defeated Covington last time out – also featured on the card.
Chandler’s win did not quiet talk about whether he should retire. The same debate now surrounds two fighters who will appear on RAF soon.
RAF have confirmed that their first event of 2026 will take place on January 10 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The main event is set to feature Covington taking on Luke Rockhold.
Several champions from the promotion will also return on the same night as the matchup, which is scheduled for 195 pounds.
Following his knockout loss to Darren Till in August, many speculated that Rockhold would retire from competition, particularly in a high-risk ruleset like boxing.
The exclusive stream of the event will be available on FOX Nation.
RAF’s final event of 2025 will put two UFC fighters in the spotlight
Many fans were taken aback when Belal Muhammad was paired with David Carr for RAF’s upcoming event on December 20 in Indianapolis.
But the promotion added another bout to the card that should catch the eye of plenty of MMA fans.
Bo Nickal is set to take on Yoel Romero at the Fishers Event Center, a matchup that brings plenty of interest given their respective backgrounds.
- READ MORE: Cejudo names the only matchup that tempts him out of retirement to end a UFC-sparked feud
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