Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from MMA competition. Mike Malott is expected to enter the top-15 welterweight rankings following his recent performance, though the analyst questions his potential against elite fighters. Hamzat Chimaev has officially signed a contract with the RAF wrestling organization. The Guskov vs Blachowicz fight was canceled but replaced with a matchup against Polish fighter Ibo Baranievski. Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber 13-1 in RAF competition and called out Colby Covington afterward, promising a 10-0 victory. Bo Nickal immediately responded to Chimaev's RAF signing by challenging the champion.
Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts competition, closing the book on a career that saw the Brazilian welterweight become one of the division's most respected figures.
Burns, 39, finishes with a professional record of 22-10. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the orthodox striker was ranked 13th in the welterweight division at the time of his retirement. Over his career he averaged 3.15 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also posing a consistent grappling threat with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes. His departure opens a spot in the divisional rankings, with Mike Malott expected to move into the top 15 following a recent standout performance, though questions have been raised about how Malott might fare against the division's upper tier.
Elsewhere, Hamzat Chimaev has officially signed with the RAF wrestling organization, a move that drew an immediate response from Bo Nickal. The 30-year-old American, who holds a 9-1 record and trains out of American Top Team Happy Valley, quickly issued a challenge to Chimaev following the signing. Nickal is a dangerous option for any opponent, averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes, with striking accuracy of 61 percent.
In other RAF news, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by a 13-1 score in competition and subsequently called out Colby Covington, vowing a dominant victory. A planned bout between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz was canceled but a replacement fight has been arranged, with Blachowicz set to face Polish fighter Ibo Baranievski instead.
Why it matters
- Burns' retirement creates movement in a crowded welterweight top 15, with Malott poised to step into that space
- Chimaev's RAF signing immediately reshuffled the organization's landscape, drawing a challenge from the highly credentialed Nickal
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington and Nickal's pursuit of Chimaev signal a busy period ahead for combat sports outside the UFC
