Chimaev, Burns Set for RAF Wrestling Rematch Sept. 18
Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns will rematch on the wrestling mat at RAF 13 on Sept. 18 in Coral Gables, Florida.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team.
Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns will run it back, only this time it's on the wrestling mat instead of inside the Octagon. The two are booked to meet at Real American Freestyle's RAF 13 card on September 18 at Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
The rematch revisits one of the sport's most talked about nights. Chimaev and Burns first met at UFC 273, a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors, with Chimaev winning by decision. More than four years later, they'll settle up again, minus the strikes and submissions this time around.
Why Chimaev vs. Burns Is Happening in RAF, Not the UFC
Both men have moved into different phases of their combat sports careers, which is what makes a freestyle wrestling meeting possible. Burns retired from mixed martial arts after dropping his fifth straight fight, a loss to Mike Malott in April. Since walking away from MMA competition, he's shifted into management work and has kept busy competing in UFC BJJ, and the Chimaev matchup will mark his first appearance in Real American Freestyle.
Chimaev, meanwhile, is stacking up RAF bookings while his UFC middleweight title reign remains unsettled outside the cage. He already has a September 5 assignment on the books, headlining RAF Moscow against former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, and this will be his second RAF appearance following an earlier debut against Dillon Danis. The Burns match adds a third high-profile name to his young wrestling resume in a matter of weeks.
What This Means for Bettors and Fight Fans
A pure wrestling contest between these two flips the expectations from their 2022 fight on their head. Burns built his name as one of the most well-rounded grapplers to ever challenge for UFC gold, and freestyle wrestling removes the punches that let Chimaev separate himself in their first meeting. That makes this a genuinely different puzzle than the MMA version, and oddsmakers and fans alike will treat it as such rather than assuming a rerun of the 2022 result.
For a promotion still building its audience, pairing two recognizable UFC names on the same card carries obvious appeal, especially with Chimaev doing double duty across two RAF events in under two weeks. That workload is itself a storyline worth watching, since turning around from a Woodley fight on September 5 to face Burns on September 18 leaves little time to reset.
Chimaev vs. Burns is set to serve as the co-main event of RAF 13.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns rematch?
Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns face off at RAF 13 on September 18 at Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, this time in a freestyle wrestling match rather than MMA.
What happened when Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns fought in the UFC?
Khamzat Chimaev defeated Gilbert Burns by decision at UFC 273 in 2022, a bout that won Fight of the Night.
Is Gilbert Burns still fighting in MMA?
No, Gilbert Burns retired from MMA after a loss to Mike Malott in April, his fifth consecutive defeat, and has since moved into management and UFC BJJ competition.
