Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from MMA. At RAF, Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber with a 13-1 technical superiority victory, throwing Faber out of bounds during the match. After the bout, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, promising to push for a 10-0 score and stating he will make people forget about Covington as a wrestler. The Guskov vs Blachowicz fight was canceled but replaced with Ibo Baraniewicz as Blachowicz's opponent. Hamzat Chimaev has signed a contract with RAF.
Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, closing out a career that saw the Brazilian welterweight compile a 22-10 record across more than a decade of high-level competition.
Burns, 39, competed at welterweight and was ranked 13th in the division at the time of his retirement. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the orthodox striker landed 3.15 significant strikes per minute over his career at 48 percent accuracy, while also contributing on the mat with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes. Known by his nickname "Durinho," the five-foot-ten native of Brazil leaves the sport having shared the cage with some of the division's best.
At a recent RAF event, Arman Tsarukyan turned in a dominant performance against Urijah Faber, earning a 13-1 technical superiority victory that included a moment where Faber was thrown out of bounds during the contest. Faber, 47, carries a 35-11 record built primarily at bantamweight and featherweight, fighting out of Team Alpha Male. The five-foot-six California native has long been one of MMA's most recognizable figures, but the contest was firmly one-sided.
Following the victory, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to target a 10-0 scoring edge and declaring he would make people forget about Covington's wrestling credentials. Covington, 38, holds a 17-5 record and averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the highest volumes in the welterweight division.
Elsewhere on the RAF card, the scheduled bout between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz was canceled, with Ibo Baraniewicz stepping in as Blachowicz's replacement opponent. Additionally, Hamzat Chimaev has signed a contract with RAF, adding one of MMA's most prominent figures to the promotion's roster.
Why it matters
- Burns's retirement reshapes the welterweight rankings at number 13, opening movement for rising contenders
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington sets up a potential high-profile wrestling-focused matchup
- Chimaev's arrival signals RAF is aggressively pursuing marquee talent
