Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from MMA following the recent event. Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber with a 13-1 victory in RAF wrestling, fulfilling his pre-fight promise to throw his opponent into the crowd. After the match, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to achieve a 10-0 shutout and stating he gave Faber one point out of respect for his age. Khamzat Chimaev has signed with RAF, prompting an immediate challenge from Bo Nickal. Mike Malott is predicted to enter the top 15 at welterweight, though the analyst questions his potential against elite competition. The Guskov vs Blachowicz fight was cancelled but replaced with Jan Blachowicz facing fellow Polish fighter Ibo Baraniewski.
Gilbert Burns, the Brazilian welterweight veteran known as "Durinho," has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, closing the book on a career that saw him reach the pinnacle of the 170-pound division.
Burns, 39, finishes his career with a record of 22-10. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the orthodox Brazilian was a consistent presence near the top of the welterweight rankings, sitting at number 13 at the time of his retirement. Over his career he averaged 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also threatening regularly on the ground with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Elsewhere, Arman Tsarukyan delivered a dominant 13-1 performance over Urijah Faber in RAF wrestling, making good on his pre-fight promise to throw Faber into the crowd. After the victory, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, declaring he would shut him out 10-0. He credited Faber with one point out of respect for his age.
Khamzat Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight known as "Borz," has signed with RAF. The 32-year-old, who carries a 15-1 record and is ranked tenth pound-for-pound, drew an immediate challenge from Bo Nickal following the announcement. Chimaev averages a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at 60 percent accuracy. Nickal, also a decorated wrestler, holds a 9-1 record and strikes at an even higher 61 percent accuracy, averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes — setting up a potential clash between two of combat sport's most feared grapplers.
On the light heavyweight front, the scheduled bout between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz was cancelled, but Blachowicz will instead face fellow Polish fighter Ibo Baraniewski.
Why it matters
- Burns' retirement opens a spot in the welterweight rankings, with Mike Malott projected by analysts to move into the top 15
- Chimaev's RAF signing and the immediate Nickal callout creates a high-profile grappling showdown between two elite wrestlers
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington adds another compelling welterweight storyline following Burns' exit
