Gilbert Burns Calls for Chimaev Trilogy After RAF 13

Gilbert Burns wants a rubber match with Khamzat Chimaev, and he wants it spread across three different disciplines, after the two met at RAF 13 in a freestyle wrestling bout on Friday night at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.

Burns and Chimaev already share history. Their first meeting came at UFC 273 in April 2021, a five-round war that earned Fight of the Night honors before Chimaev took it by split decision. That result sent Chimaev on a run toward the middleweight title picture, while Burns's career hit rougher water, culminating in his retirement from MMA this past May after five straight losses. RAF 13 marked Burns's debut in Real American Freestyle and Chimaev's third appearance in the promotion, following a win over Dillon Danis and a booking against former UFC champion Tyron Woodley.

What Would a Three-Discipline Trilogy Look Like

Burns is pitching a decider that would not settle for a single rule set. Splitting a series across formats, MMA, wrestling, and presumably a grappling or boxing leg, would let each man showcase a different strength and would settle their unfinished business without leaning on just one style. It is a novel pitch for a sport still figuring out how freestyle wrestling crossovers like RAF fit alongside traditional MMA and grappling promotions, and it fits the persona Burns built for himself going into this match: a veteran with nothing to lose trying to spoil Chimaev's momentum by making the fight ugly and prolonged rather than clean and quick.

Why This Matters for Chimaev's Bigger Picture

Chimaev remains one of the sport's most avoided names, and how he looked against Burns on the wrestling mat will shape how bettors and matchmakers view his stock going forward. He is currently a top contender at UFC middleweight and has said he is waiting on the promotion to book his next MMA fight. A strong showing against a credentialed grappler like Burns, even in a hybrid freestyle format, only adds to the leverage he holds heading into that next negotiation. For Burns, reviving the rivalry gives him a reason to stay relevant in combat sports even after hanging up his MMA gloves, and a multi-discipline series is the kind of built-in narrative that crossover promotions like RAF need to keep drawing eyes.

A trilogy spanning three disciplines is not something either side has locked in, but the idea alone says plenty about where the sport is headed: fighters and promotions increasingly treating rivalries as content to be extended across formats rather than settled in a single cage or mat appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Gilbert Burns say about Khamzat Chimaev after RAF 13?

Gilbert Burns said he wants a trilogy against Khamzat Chimaev contested across three different combat disciplines after the two faced off in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 13.

Have Gilbert Burns and Khamzat Chimaev fought before?

Yes, Gilbert Burns and Khamzat Chimaev first met at UFC 273 in April 2021, a five-round Fight of the Night that Chimaev won by split decision, before running it back in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF 13.

Is Gilbert Burns still competing in MMA?

No, Gilbert Burns retired from MMA in May 2026 after five straight losses, but he continues to compete in grappling and crossover formats like Real American Freestyle.