Gilbert Burns has officially announced his retirement from MMA competition. Meanwhile, Mike Malott is expected to enter the top 15 welterweight rankings following his recent victory, though the analyst expresses skepticism about Malott's potential against the division's elite next generation of fighters. The post also notes that the scheduled fight between Guskov and Blachowicz has been canceled, but will be replaced by a matchup featuring Polish fighter Ibo Baranievski. Additionally, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber 13-1 in a wrestling match and afterward called out Colby Covington, promising a 10-0 victory. Khamzat Chimaev has signed with RAF, and Bo Nickal immediately responded by challenging the champion.
Gilbert Burns has officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, closing the book on a decorated career at welterweight. Separately, Mike Malott is expected to crack the top 15 at 170 pounds following a recent win, Khamzat Chimaev has signed with RAF, and several other notable developments are reshaping the welterweight and middleweight landscapes.
Burns, known as "Durinho," departs with a professional record of 22-10-0. The 39-year-old Brazilian, who competed out of Kill Cliff FC, was ranked 13th at welterweight at the time of his retirement. A technically rounded fighter standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns averaged 3.15 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy and added consistent wrestling pressure with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Mike Malott is projected to enter the welterweight top 15 on the back of his latest performance, though analysts have raised questions about how he would fare against the division's emerging elite.
A scheduled light heavyweight bout between Guskov and Blachowicz has been called off, with Polish fighter Ibo Baranievski set to step in as a replacement opponent.
In an unusual cross-sport moment, Arman Tsarukyan reportedly defeated Urijah Faber 13-1 in a wrestling match and subsequently called out Colby Covington.
Why it matters
- Burns retiring at 22-10-0 opens a ranked slot at welterweight, shuffling the top 15 picture
- Malott's expected ranking entry adds another name to a crowded 170-pound contender pool
- Chimaev signing with RAF is a significant organizational development at middleweight
On that middleweight note, Khamzat Chimaev — ranked first in the division and 10th pound-for-pound — has signed with RAF. "Borz" carries a 15-1-0 record and remains one of the sport's most statistically dominant wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes at 60 percent striking accuracy. Bo Nickal, 9-1-0 and operating out of American Top Team Happy Valley, immediately issued a public challenge to Chimaev. The 30-year-old southpaw averages 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making a potential clash between the two grapplers a genuinely compelling stylistic proposition.
