Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from MMA competition. The originally scheduled bout between Guskov and Blachowicz has been canceled, but the UFC has found a replacement opponent for Guskov in fellow Polish fighter Ibo Baraniewicz. Arman Tsarukyan defeated Faber 13-1 in a wrestling match and called out Colby Covington afterward, promising a dominant performance. Mike Malott is expected to enter the top-15 at welterweight following his recent victory, though the post expresses skepticism about his ability to compete with elite fighters in the division. Hamzat Chimaev has also signed a contract with RAF wrestling league.
Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, bringing an end to a notable career in the UFC's welterweight division. The Brazilian fighter, who competed out of Kill Cliff FC, finishes with a professional record of 22-10-0.
Burns, 39, was ranked thirteenth at welterweight at the time of his retirement. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, "Durinho" was a well-rounded competitor who averaged 3.15 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also contributing on the ground with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Separately, a light heavyweight matchup between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz has been canceled, though the UFC moved quickly to fill the slot. Polish heavyweight prospect Ibo Baraniewicz has stepped in as a replacement opponent for Guskov, creating an all-Polish contest.
In other news, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by a 13-1 margin in a wrestling match and used the moment to call out Colby Covington, promising a dominant outing. Faber, the 47-year-old Team Alpha Male veteran who holds a career record of 35-11-0, has long been an ambassador for the sport beyond the cage.
Khamzat Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter on the UFC roster, has signed a contract with the RAF wrestling league. The 32-year-old out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1-0 record and boasts some of the most imposing grappling numbers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 60 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Burns' retirement opens movement in a crowded welterweight top-15, with Mike Malott among those expected to enter the rankings
- The Guskov-Baraniewicz replacement bout preserves a card slot while setting up an intriguing intra-national matchup
- Chimaev's wrestling league signing signals continued activity for the middleweight division's top contender outside the Octagon
