MMA

RAF 13 live blog: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns

Published

3 weeks ago

September 18, 2026

RAF 13 live blog: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns

This is the RAF 13 live blog for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns, who wrestle this Friday at the Watsoc Center in Miami, Fla.

Chimaev got his start in wrestling, winning Swedish nationals three times in his youth. From there, Chimaev moved to MMA, where he became one of the biggest stars in the sport, winning the UFC middleweight title last year, before dropping the belt to Sean Strickland in May. Since then, Chimaev has returned to his wrestling roots, beating both Dillon Danis and Tyron Woodley in RAF, setting up this match with his former MMA foe.

A former UFC welterweight title challenger and world champion BJJ player, Burns was the first man to give Chimaev a hard fight in MMA, losing a competitive decision to â€œBorzâ€ in 2022. After retiring from MMA in April, Burns is now back to competing in grappling sports and makes his wrestling debut this weekend.

Check out the live blog for Chimaev vs. Burns below.

Chimaev looks significantly bigger than Burns.

Chimaev pressing forward immediately and shoots an early double leg when Burns get to the edge of the circle, scoring a push out. 1-0 Chimaev.

Burns responds with a shot off the whistle, but Chimaev sprawls and shifts to the back, getting a quick two points. Gut wrench from there for back exposure, turning Burns out of the circle. 5-0 Chimaev.

Oh! Burns comes out and powers a double this time, and Chimaev is trying to defend but he's moving backward. Burns keeps driving and gets the takedown! Honestly, Chimaev went to his back outside the ring, so that could've been four, but two points. 5-2 Chimaev.

And Chimaev with a double and quick takedown on the restart, getting two right back as Burns goes out. 7-2 Chimaev

Chimaev with a clean entry on a double-leg, hits the pass by to get the takedown and then another gut wrench for four points. 11-2 Chimaev.

On the restart, neither can gain purchase and the round ends.

Chimaev only needs two and he immediately goes for a low single leg to try and get it, but Burns defends well this time and gets the reversal! Now Burns going for back exposure by going over the top but the ref stops it. 11-4 Chimaev.

Chimaev right after it on the restart and Burns gets snapped down, but ref stops as Chimaev nearly gets a d'arce choke, lol.

On the restart and Chimaev goes from a tie-up to a blast double and gets the takedown, with Burns landing on his back. That should be four points, but Burns' corner challenges. No reason not to, because if it stands, Burns loses. And it stands! Chimaev with the tech fall.

Khamzat Chimaev def. Gilbert Burns via tech fall (15-4)

After the match, Chimaev and Burns hug a lot. Tons of respect between them. Then Chimaev goes to speak with Chael Sonnen.

Chimaev says he's going to L.A. to support Arman Tsarukyan tomorrow. Then he says he's looking to beat Colby to take the title. Then he gives respect to Gilbert Burns, before speaking in Russian, that gets no translator.

MMA

Brendan Allen accuses Dricus du Plessis of taking ‘easier’ Kamaru Usman fight

Published

13 hours ago

October 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Brendan Allen accuses Dricus du Plessis of taking ‘easier’ Kamaru Usman fight

Brendan
Allen has criticized Dricus Du
Plessis for allegedly avoiding a fight with him.

A matchup between Allen and du Plessis was reportedly in the works
in January. According to Allen, the bout fell through after he was
told du Plessis was injured. Du Plessis went on to face former

Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Kamaru
Usman in July, winning by unanimous decision.

Brendan Allen explains why he believes he was a tougher
opponent than Kamaru Usman

Allen has accused du Plessis of avoiding him in favor of an easier
fight against Usman. â€œAll Inâ€ acknowledges that the 39-year-old
former welterweight champion remains a bigger draw. However, Allen
believes he presents a tougher matchup, prompting du Plessis to
take the â€œeasier fight.â€

â€œI know he's had the opportunity to fight me and he took the easier
route,â€ Allen told UFC on Paramount+. â€œHe can say whatever he
wants; it's a fact. We were supposed to fight. And somehow it got
worked that Kamaru's name got thrown in there. And obviously Kamaru
is a bigger draw even though he's older, up a weight class. He took
the easier fight, plain and simple. Everyone knows it was the
easier fight. I'm bigger, I'm stronger, I'm faster. I think I'm
more talented, but people are gonna play off of Kamaru's resume.
OK, play off his resume, but I don't think that Kamaru can make it
five rounds with me.â€

Allen (27-7) enters his
UFC Vegas 122 main event against Christian
Leroy Duncan (15-2) on Saturday in Las Vegas with three
consecutive victories. Duncan has won five straight fights.

Brendan
Allen says DDP took the â€œeasier fight” against Kamaru
Usman instead of fighting him ðŸ‘€ “He took the easier route. He
can say whatever he wants; it’s a fact. We were supposed to
fight… Obviously Kamaru is a bigger draw even though he’s older,
up a weight class. Everyone knows it was the easier fight.” [
#UFCVegas122 | SAT Oct 10 on @paramountplus ]

â€” UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
October 8, 2026

MMA

Morning Report | Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov have heated run-in at the UFC P.I.

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Morning Report | Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov have heated run-in at the UFC P.I.

Let me start with what this isn't:

What is your pick for the highest level fight we have ever seen inside the cage?

This can be:

A fight with to guys at the absolute peak of their powers (Cejudo vs MM, Dillashaw vs Cruz, Jones vs Cormier)
A fight that had an insane technical level between both guys that blew your mind (Evloev vs Sterling comes to mind)

Have a little fun with it and as always disagree vehemently but respectfully! ðŸ«¡

MMA

Vertigo delays Alvin Hines pursuit of first UFC victory

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Vertigo delays Alvin Hines' pursuit of first UFC victory

Alvin
Hines' pursuit of his first win in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship has been delayed.

Hines was scheduled to face Gabriel
Lourenco in a heavyweight bout at
UFC Fight Night 293 on Nov. 7 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
However, Hines has announced his withdrawal from the fight because
of vertigo.

Alvin Hines withdraws from UFC Fight Night 293 against Gabriel
Lourenco

Hines plans to continue training with adjustments while recovering
from vertigo and hopes to return to competition at full
strength.

â€œI had to pull out of this one for medical reasons due to vertigo,â€
Hines wrote on Instagram. â€œIt wasn't an easy decision, but I know I
need to be able to step into that Octagon at 100% and perform to my
true potential. I'm going to continue fight camp with some
adjustments while I work through this and get myself back to where
I need to be. I'm not walking away from the fight. I'm taking the
time to get right so when I'm back in there, I can put on the kind
of fight I know I'm capable of. I'm sorry for the change, and I
appreciate everyone who was looking forward to seeing me compete.
Trust me, I'll be back. Sometimes the hardest part of fighting
isn't throwing punches. It's knowing when to step back, get right,
and prepare for the next battle. This is just a setback. Not the
end of the story.â€

Hines (7-2) was an undefeated prospect with six finishes in seven
victories when he signed with the UFC last year. However, â€œGoozieâ€
has lost both of his Octagon appearances. Meanwhile, Lourenco (8-1)
was slated to make his promotional debut against Hines after
earning a contract with a first-round knockout victory over Charlie
Cleveland on
Dana White's Contender Series in September.