Chimaev Steamrolls Burns in Miami: RAF 13 Delivers a Ruthless Rivalry Revival

Miami, Florida — RAF 13 brought the heat long before the crowd filled the arena, thanks to a marquee freestyle wrestling clash between former UFC rivals Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns. Their MMA war in 2022 became an instant classic — but this time, under Real American Freestyle rules, Chimaev left no doubt. He dominated Burns with a blistering 15-4 technical fall, pushing his RAF record to a perfect 3-0.

Chimaev Sets the Tone Early

From the opening whistle, Chimaev wasted no time imposing his trademark pressure. His transitions were sharp, his pace relentless, and his gut-wrench series immediately put Burns on the defensive. Multiple takedowns and exposures stacked up quickly, giving Chimaev a commanding 11-2 advantage by the end of the first period.

Burns, a world-class jiu-jitsu technician with deep grappling pedigree, showed flashes of resistance — but Chimaev’s freestyle toolkit was simply too overwhelming.

Burns Fights Back, But Chimaev Closes the Door

Burns opened the second period with grit, securing two points and briefly shifting momentum. But Chimaev responded with a punishing double-leg takedown that halted any comeback hopes.

Moments later, Chimaev executed a decisive four-point exposure sequence. Burns’ corner challenged the call, but the ruling stood — sealing the 15-4 technical fall and ending the bout in the second period.

This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.

Respect, Rivalry, and What Comes Next

After the match, Chimaev praised Burns’ elite grappling background, acknowledging the Brazilian’s status as a world-class jiu-jitsu competitor. He also voiced support for Arman Tsarukyan and hinted at future ambitions inside RAF — including interest in a showdown with Colby Covington.

Chimaev’s undefeated 3-0 run in Real American Freestyle continues to build momentum, and with performances like this, his presence in the promotion is becoming must-watch material.

Citation Sources

• Video reference: watch the video embedded in this article
  MiddleEasy: 15–4 result, scoring sequence, 3–0 record and post-match comments

Article Tags

RAF 13, Khamzat Chimaev, Gilbert Burns, Freestyle Wrestling, Miami Sports, Combat Sports, MMA to Wrestling, Technical Fall, Real American Freestyle, Grappling News, Combat Sports Journalism