Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from MMA following the recent UFC event. Mike Malott's victory has earned him a spot in the top 15 welterweight rankings, though the post expresses skepticism about his potential against top-tier competition. Arman Tsarukyan defeated Uriah Faber 13-1 in a RAF wrestling match and threw him into the crowd as promised during the press conference. Following his dominant performance, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to win 10-0 and stating he gave Faber only one point out of respect for his age. Additionally, Khamzat Chimaev has signed a contract with RAF, with Bo Nickal immediately responding by challenging the champion.
Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from MMA, bringing an end to a lengthy career at welterweight, while Mike Malott's recent victory has pushed him into the top 15 of the division's rankings.
Burns, 39, finishes his career with a record of 22-10. The Brazilian out of Kill Cliff FC spent years as one of the more dangerous fighters in the welterweight division, landing 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also threatening on the ground with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes. He leaves ranked 13th at 170 pounds. Malott's win moves him into the top 15 at welterweight, though questions remain about how he would fare against elite-level competition in the division.
In a separate and unusual development, Khamzat Chimaev has signed a contract with RAF, the Russian wrestling and combat sports organization. Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and 10th pound-for-pound at 15-1, is one of the most physically dominant fighters in the sport. The 32-year-old out of Allstars Training Center lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy and averages a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. Bo Nickal, 30, responded immediately to the signing by calling out Chimaev. Nickal holds a 9-1 record and brings elite wrestling credentials of his own, averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes, with a striking accuracy of 61 percent.
Why it matters
- Burns retiring at 22-10 closes the book on one of welterweight's most well-rounded careers of the past decade
- Malott entering the top 15 reshapes the lower half of a deep welterweight division
- Chimaev's RAF commitment and Nickal's immediate callout sets up a potential high-profile collision between two of middleweight's most physically imposing wrestlers
