Gilbert Burns has ended his fighting career following his recent bout. Ian Machado Garry is expected to enter the top 15 rankings, though doubts remain about his potential against elite welterweights. The Gustafsson-Blachowicz fight was cancelled but replaced with a matchup between Gustafsson and fellow Pole Ibo Baraniewski. Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber 13-1 and afterward called out Colby Covington, promising a 10-0 shutout and vowing to make people forget Covington as a wrestler. Khamzat Chimaev has officially signed a contract with RAF, and Bo Nickal immediately responded by challenging the champion.
Gilbert Burns has officially called time on his mixed martial arts career, marking the end of a decorated run in the UFC welterweight division. The Brazilian fighter, known as "Durinho," finishes with a professional record of 22-10-0.
Burns, 39, represented Brazil and trained out of Kill Cliff FC throughout his career. Ranked 13th in the welterweight division at the time of his retirement, he was a technically well-rounded fighter who averaged 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also threatening consistently on the ground with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
In other welterweight news, Arman Tsarukyan dominated his opponent and afterward called out Colby Covington by name, promising a commanding 10-0 shutout performance and vowing to erase Covington's reputation as a wrestler.
Alexander Gustafsson, "The Mauler," has had his scheduled bout reshuffled. After a planned fight fell through, the 39-year-old Swede was matched with Polish fighter Ibo Baraniewski. Gustafsson trains at Allstars Training Center and carries an 18-8-0 record. Standing six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, he averages over four significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active strikers among light heavyweights of his generation.
Khamzat Chimaev has signed a contract with RAF, a development that drew an immediate response from Bo Nickal, who wasted no time issuing a public challenge to the champion. Nickal holds a 9-1-0 record and trains out of American Top Team Happy Valley. The 30-year-old American southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and posts elite numbers across the board, landing 3.35 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 61 percent while averaging 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Burns's retirement reshapes the welterweight rankings, with movement likely at the lower end of the top 15
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington sets up a potential high-stakes welterweight clash with divisional implications
- Chimaev's move to RAF and Nickal's immediate challenge signals a potential title fight conversation in the near future
