Burns gave Chimaev one of the toughest tests of his career when
they collided in 2022 in an
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight bout. They are now
scheduled to meet in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 13 on Sept.
18 at Watsco Center in Miami. The Brazilian recently revealed what
he believes is holding Chimaev back in his UFC career.

Gilbert Burns wants Khamzat Chimaev to find a stable team after
losing the UFC middleweight title

Chimaev (15-1) is coming off his first professional defeat, losing
his middleweight title to Sean
Strickland (31-7). Burns believes “Borz†will come back hungry
and strong. However, “Durinho†doesn't think Chimaev benefits from
changing coaches and camps frequently.

Chimaev previously trained out of
Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, Sweden. Burns believes
the Chechen was doing better under head coach Andreas Michael at
the renowned gym and claims he can still bounce back and become a
multi-division UFC champ if he settles down with a good team and
has a constant head coach.

“I think he is gonna be very hungry,†Burns told Red Corner MMA.
“He is still young; he is still fresh. The only thing that I can
watch from the outside and say is I don't like when he's changing
camps, changing coaches too much. When he fought me, he had that
solid general. The guy he was with in Sweden. He was doing a great
job… When the team was kind of small. I think he was doing better.
So that's my personal opinion. But I still think he's gonna bounce
back. He just needs a solid team. Guys that are not yes-men. Guys
that are gonna tell him what he has to do. With a solid team, he
can come back and become a champion, maybe two, maybe
three-division champion.â€

While Chimaev still has his longtime jiu-jitsu coach Alan “Finfouâ€
Nascimento in his corner, the former champ has frequently switched
up his training environment and is now based out of the United Arab
Emirates.

RAF co-founders Chad Bronstein and Izzy Martinez recently revealed
that discussions are underway for the Hall of Famer to compete for
the promotion before the end of 2026.

Ray Lewis is in discussions to compete for Real American
Freestyle before the end of 2026

Lewis, who has a legitimate background in wrestling, may soon make
his debut in RAF, as there are ongoing discussions between the
former professional football linebacker and the wrestling
promotion. Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder
Tyron
Woodley, who has competed twice for RAF, is helping facilitate
the crossover.

He was a state wrestling champion in high school and has credited
the sport for aiding his National Football League career.

According to MMA Fighting, a deal hasn't been finalized, but
the two sides are moving in a positive direction.

Mokaev, who controversially exited the UFC in 2024, has revealed
that he was offered a UFC BJJ title match against Mikey
Musumeci. He recently detailed turning down the matchup as he
continues to campaign for a return to the promotion's flyweight
mixed martial arts division.

Muhammad Mokaev says UFC BJJ title fight against Mikey Musumeci
came without MMA return

Speaking to BBC Sport, Mokaev said that the issue wasn't
with the opponent he was offered. Instead, he objected to the UFC’s
reluctance to link the grappling appearance to a full return to the
roster.

According to Mokaev, he was offered $10,000 to compete against
Musumeci in UFC BJJ and was prepared to accept the matchup if it
came with a UFC contract afterward. When the promotion indicated
that the grappling appearance was separate from its MMA plans, “The
Punisher†declined.

“They said, ‘No, this is different. BJJ is different. This is
different. We have other plans.' I told them where to go,†Mokaev
said.

The UFC opted against re-signing Mokaev (17-0) after his lackluster
win over top-ranked 125-pounder Manel Kape.
Despite boasting a perfect record, the Dagestan-born Brit's
pre-fight antics seemingly turned top promotional execs against
him. He has since picked up four more wins, while staying active in
grappling and wrestling matches.