Khamzat Chimaev Dominates Gilbert Burns in RAF 13
Khamzat Chimaev finally had to clock into a second period in RAF – but the story stayed the same.
The former UFC star bullied his way past Gilbert Burns in the RAF 13 co-main event, piling up points in a 15-4 rout that underlined exactly why he’s become the promotion’s most intimidating presence. The win moves Chimaev to 3-0 in RAF and leaves him staring straight at the belt.
Relentless pace, same brutal outcome
Burns arrived with pedigree and pride, and he refused to fold. He even managed something no one else in RAF has done against Chimaev: he dragged him into a second period. That alone says plenty about the Brazilian’s resistance.
It still wasn’t nearly enough.
From the opening whistle, Chimaev drove forward like a man in a hurry. A quick double-leg attempt sent Burns skidding out of bounds, gifting Chimaev the first point. Moments later, he powered through a slick four-point takedown, surging to a 5-0 lead and setting the tone for the night.
Burns answered with a burst of his own, shooting in and finishing a clean two-point takedown. Instead of slowing Chimaev, it seemed to light the fuse. The Chechen standout came roaring back, chaining his attacks and blasting through another takedown that pushed the score to 11-2 as the first period closed.
Burns had done what no one else had managed in RAF: he made Chimaev work longer. He forced him into new territory. But the gap in physicality and pace never really closed.
Burns battles, Chimaev finishes
The second period opened with Burns still fighting with real intent. He latched onto another takedown for two points, showing he hadn’t come to play the victim in a highlight reel. In a high-scoring, scrappy contest, he kept testing Chimaev’s defenses and refused to simply survive.
The response was ruthless.
Chimaev drove in on a double leg, lifted, and dumped Burns hard to the canvas for a four-point move that ended the match at 15-4. No drama, no late rally. Just a decisive finish from a man who knows exactly where he’s headed.
Burns walked away with credit for his effort and should have done enough to earn another shot in RAF. He pushed, he scored, he forced Chimaev into deeper waters than anyone else has managed there.
Chimaev, though, walked away with what matters: another dominant win, another reminder of his ceiling, another step toward gold.
“Of course, why not? He has the belt,” Chimaev said when asked about facing RAF crossover champion Colby Covington next.
Three fights, three wins, three statements. If Covington is next, Chimaev’s reign of one-sided scorecards might finally meet its first real test.
