Gilbert Burns has retired from fighting. At the RAF wrestling event, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber with a dominant 13-1 score, delivering on his promise to throw Faber into the fans. After the match, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to win 10-0 and saying he gave one point to Faber out of respect for his age but will give none to Covington. He declared he will make people forget about Covington as a wrestler. The post also mentions that Khamzat Chimaev signed with RAF, and Bo Nickal immediately responded by challenging the champion. Additionally, Mike Malott is predicted to enter the top 15 welterweight rankings.
Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from professional mixed martial arts, ending a career that saw the Brazilian welterweight compile a 22-10 record and reach the top of the 170-pound division. Burns, 39, fought out of Kill Cliff FC and was ranked 13th in the welterweight division at the time of his retirement. Known for a well-rounded game that combined 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes with consistent striking output of 3.15 significant strikes per minute, "Durinho" leaves the sport as one of the more complete fighters of his era.
At a separate RAF wrestling event, Arman Tsarukyan put on a dominant performance against Urijah Faber, winning by a commanding 13-1 margin. Tsarukyan made good on a pre-match promise by throwing Faber into the crowd following the bout. Afterward, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to defeat him 10-0 and stating he had awarded Faber the lone point only out of respect for his age. He declared he would give Covington nothing and promised to make people forget about Covington's reputation as a wrestler.
In other RAF news, Khamzat Chimaev has signed with the promotion. The middleweight, ranked first in his division and 10th pound-for-pound, carries a 15-1 record and averages a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes with 60 percent striking accuracy. Bo Nickal wasted no time responding to the signing, immediately issuing a challenge to the champion. Nickal, 30, holds a 9-1 record and brings elite wrestling credentials of his own, averaging 3.1 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 61 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Burns' retirement opens movement in the welterweight rankings, potentially benefiting fighters like Mike Malott, who is projected to enter the top 15 at 170 pounds
- Chimaev's arrival at RAF sets up a marquee matchup with Nickal, pitting two of the sport's most dangerous wrestlers against each other
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington signals his ambitions extend beyond his current division and into the welterweight conversation
