Chimaev dominates Burns with 15-point technical fall at RAF 13 to stay unbeaten

Khamzat Chimaev remained unbeaten in RAF competition with a commanding 15-4 technical fall victory over Gilbert Burns in the co-main event of RAF 13, moving to 3-0 in the promotion and immediately calling out crossover champion Colby Covington.

Chimaev opened the match with a quick out-of-bounds push to take an early point, then powered through a slick four-point takedown to surge ahead 5-0. Burns refused to fold, answering with a two-point takedown of his own — a response that appeared only to intensify Chimaev’s aggression. The Chechen wrestler added another takedown before the first period closed, extending his lead to 11-2.

Burns became the first opponent in RAF to push Chimaev into a second period, a small but notable achievement. He continued to compete, landing another two-point takedown early in the second frame. But Chimaev responded immediately with a decisive double-leg that sent Burns crashing to the canvas for a four-point move, pushing the score to 15-4 and triggering the technical fall finish.

“Of course, why not? He has the belt,” Chimaev said when asked about facing Covington next, keeping his ambitions direct and unambiguous.

While Chimaev’s dominance was never seriously threatened, Burns gave a creditable account of himself — the only fighter across Chimaev’s three RAF appearances to take the match beyond the opening period. Whether Burns earns a return to the promotion remains to be seen, but his willingness to engage and score points throughout distinguished him from previous opponents.

For Chimaev, the path forward points squarely at Covington and the RAF title. Whether that crossover match materialises will be the story to watch.