Chimaev submits Burns in wrestling rematch at RAF 13 in Miami

Khamzat Chimaev faced Gilbert Burns at RAF 13 at the Watsoc Center in Miami in a wrestling match that revisited one of the more compelling rivalries in recent UFC history.

Chimaev, who won the UFC middleweight title last year before losing the belt to Sean Strickland in May, has since returned to his grappling roots. A three-time Swedish national wrestling champion in his youth, he has gone 2-0 in RAF competition, defeating Dillon Danis and Tyron Woodley to set up this meeting with Burns.

Burns arrives at the event as one of the most decorated grapplers in MMA. A former UFC welterweight title challenger and world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he was the first fighter to genuinely test Chimaev inside the cage, pushing “Borz” to a competitive decision loss in their 2022 UFC bout. Burns retired from MMA in April and is making his wrestling debut this weekend.

The rematch carries added weight given how close their original contest was. Burns’s combination of elite BJJ and wrestling credentials makes him a credible threat even on the mat, where Chimaev is most comfortable. For Chimaev, a third consecutive RAF win would reinforce his standing as one of combat sports’ most versatile competitors during his post-title rebuild.