Gilbert Burns has officially retired from MMA competition following his recent bout. The scheduled fight between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz has been cancelled, but replaced with another Polish opponent, Ibo Baraniewicz. Arman Tsarukyan defeated Faber 13-1 and called out Colby Covington afterward, promising to dominate him 10-0. Tsarukyan stated he gave Faber one point out of respect for his age, but will fight Covington with full intensity. Additionally, Khamzat Chimaev has signed a contract with RAF, prompting an immediate callout from Bo Nickal challenging the champion.
Gilbert Burns has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, bringing an end to a career that saw the Brazilian welterweight become one of the division's most respected competitors.
Burns, 39, finishes with a professional record of 22-10 and spent the final chapter of his career ranked thirteenth at welterweight. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the orthodox grappler was a consistent threat on the ground, averaging 2.12 takedowns per fifteen minutes throughout his career, while also producing 3.15 significant strikes landed per minute on the feet. His retirement follows his most recent bout.
In other news, the light heavyweight contest between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz has been cancelled. Blachowicz will remain on the card, however, with Polish compatriot Ibo Baraniewicz stepping in as his new opponent.
Arman Tsarukyan scored a commanding 13-1 judges' decision over Urijah Faber and immediately called out Colby Covington, stating he would dominate him ten rounds to zero. Tsarukyan noted that the single point awarded to Faber was a gesture of respect for the veteran's age, and that he intends to show no such leniency against Covington.
Perhaps the most significant development of the day involves Khamzat Chimaev. The middleweight contender, ranked first in the division and tenth pound-for-pound, has signed a contract with RAF. The move drew an immediate response from Bo Nickal, who publicly challenged Chimaev.
Why it matters
- Burns's retirement creates a vacancy at number thirteen in the welterweight rankings, reshuffling the queue for title contention
- Chimaev's move to RAF places the 15-1 Borz in a new promotional landscape; at 32 he remains in his prime and is one of the sport's most feared strikers and wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes
- Nickal, a 30-year-old southpaw carrying a 9-1 record and a remarkable 61 percent striking accuracy, has positioned himself as the primary challenger under the new banner should the fight get made
