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RAF 13 live blog: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns

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1 month ago

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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 “Borz†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.

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Morning Report | Alexander Volkanovski lists two fights he’d like if Justin Gaethje fight can’t happen

Published

8 hours ago

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October 29, 2026

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Morning Report | Alexander Volkanovski lists two fights he’d like if Justin Gaethje fight can’t happen

If the UFC and the fans aren't into the idea of Alexander Volkanovski fighting Justin Gaethje, he has some other ideas.

This past weekend, Volkanovski added another title defense to his featherweight résumé, stopping Movsar Evloev in the second round of the UFC 333 main event. After the win, Volkanovski campaigned for a double retirement fight with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Volkanovski's pitch has been met with a mixed reception, with some fans into the idea, while others wonder about Arman Tsarukyan, the presumptive next title challenger at 155 pounds.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Volkanovski agreed about Tsarukyan, and so he pitched another possible scenario.

â€I do believe Arman should be fighting for the title,†Volkanovski said. “If I was in the lightweight division, and I was the champion, I'm fighting Arman, 100 percent. If Gaethje doesn't want to do that, I'll do it. That excites me.

“You've got Ilia [Topuria] and Paddy [Pimblett] that are in a great position, but that's a great fight [between them]. So if you needed a title fight, Arman and myself. I think that's great. Can we do that?â€

â€Arman's a great fighter,†Volkanovski continued. “I would absolutely love that. Everyone knows how I do against wrestlers. Everyone knows I can handle wrestlers. I believe that even as good as Arman is, I think he's one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the UFC — you ain't holding me down. Even Arman.

“I've got so much respect for him, but I'm getting back up, and we're standing and fighting. But he's got good standup, so that'll be a fun fight.â€

Volkanovski even teased that if he does get a lightweight title shot next, he's also willing to stick around, if that's what the UFC wants.

“I'll vacate the featherweight belt; fight Arman for the title,†Volkanovski said. “There it is. I'm starting to get more excited for that than the Gaethje fight. …

“I'll talk to the UFC, and I'll be, ‘I'll do this, I'll vacate. I'll do the lightweight thing.' If you want me out of the picture after this because you just, look, ‘We'll give you that chance, and then you vacate, win, lose, or draw.' But if people don't like that idea, and the UFC don't like that idea, then alright. We'll go again.â€

Of course, this all hinges on Gaethje, who has yet to make a decision about his future in the sport. The lightweight champion is still healing injuries from his win over Ilia Topuria at UFC White House, and has said he expects to talk with his family about whether or not he will retire in the coming months. If Gaethje does decide to stick around and defend his belt against Tsarukyan, then Volkanovski says there's one particular opponent he feels is most deserving at 145 pounds.

“I believe if Aljamain [Sterling] wins another fight, I feel like Aljamain deserves it more [than Jean Silva],†Volkanovski said. “When we're talking deserves it more, I'm going to say ‘Aljo.' Aljo deserves it more. But who do I think's next? They're both worthy competitors, and they're both in a position where they'll probably go. But who do I think deserves it more? I think Aljamain, especially after another win, taking a fight against a dangerous guy like Kevin. …

“It is up to that fight, I believe. Silva's in a great position. I think he just needs to wait and see what happens with Aljo.â€

Free Agent. ‘I would like to be a free agent': Renato Moicano plans to fight out remainder of deal ahead of UFC Vegas 123 headliner.

Next. Sean O'Malley: There's no ‘debate or an argument,' rematch against Petr Yan is next.

Cries. Jose Aldo reveals real reason why he ‘cried a lot' after Conor McGregor loss.

Backup. Joselyne Edwards to serve as backup fighter for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334.

Retirement. Amanda Serrano set for retirement fight in January.

Renato Moicano interview.

Chael Sonnen talks about Sean Strickland.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Dialed. Also, Gaethje has a real old-man swing.

Who said money can't buy happiness?

This is real GOAT behavior — getting weird.

If Gaethje retires, Arman vs. Volk would be OK. Still kinda shitty for actual lightweights putting together meaningful wins in the division, but it would no longer be a huge miscarriage of justice.

Or Volk could just bail on 145 and go up and fight any ‘55er and earn a title fight. That would also be fine.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.

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Javid Basharat says brother learned of UFC exit with everyone else

Published

9 hours ago

on

October 29, 2026

By

Javid Basharat says brother learned of UFC exit with everyone else
Javid
Basharat has defended his brother following the latter's

Ultimate Fighting Championship departure.

Farid
Basharat (16-0) completed his contract and wasn't offered a new
deal despite going 7-0 in the promotion, prompting debate about
recent roster decisions. Javid, whose UFC contract was not renewed
in February, rejected CEO Dana
White's suggestion that difficulties with matchmakers or
declined fights could explain his brother's departure.

Javid Basharat says Farid waited three months without UFC
contract talks and never refused fights

White was asked about Farid's departure at the
UFC Edmonton postfight press conference. He suggested there
were reasons beyond Farid's results for the decision not to renew
his contract but did not identify a specific incident.

Farid responded on his Instagram Stories.

“A lot of assumptions made, but no facts were said,†Farid wrote.
“I definitely wasn't turning down fights.â€

Javid echoed his brother's response, saying they had not discussed
a contract renewal with the promotion.

“I can vouch that no fights were turned down nor were we hard to
deal with as a matter of fact we have never had a conversation with
regard to renewing the contract,†Javid wrote. “We patiently waited
3 months and we found out when everyone else found out!â€

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MMA

Muhammad Mokaev blames TKO & Paramount, not Dana White, for UFC exits

Published

21 hours ago

on

October 28, 2026

By

Muhammad Mokaev blames TKO & Paramount, not Dana White, for UFC exits
Muhammad
Mokaev blames TKO and Paramount for recent
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster decisions rather than CEO
Dana
White.

The UFC has faced criticism for declining to renew contracts for
fighters on winning streaks. Mokaev, who left the promotion under
similar circumstances, believes its parent company and broadcast
partner are responsible for the recent departures.

Muhammad Mokaev rejects Dana White’s explanation after Farid
Basharat’s UFC departure

Mokaev left the UFC more than two years ago. More recently,
Michael
Page and Farid
Basharat were not offered new deals despite promotional records
of 5-1 and 7-0, respectively. White's comments about Basharat's
departure prompted Mokaev's response.

At the
UFC Edmonton postfight news conference, White suggested that
difficulties with matchmakers or declined fights could explain why
an unbeaten fighter was not re-signed, without identifying a
specific incident involving Basharat. Mokaev rejected that
explanation and instead blamed TKO and Paramount.

“They can't give a reason. Only thing they gotta say is ‘the
matchmakers can't deal with him.' Total bullsh*t answer. Still I
don't blame Dana, I blame Paramount and TKO,†Mokaev wrote on
X.

Mokaev completed his UFC contract with a victory over Manel Kape
in July 2024, improving to 7-0 in the promotion before it declined
to re-sign him. White cited behind-the-scenes issues at the time,
while Mokaev said matchmakers had warned him about his
grappling-heavy style.

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