Khamzat Chimaev finally had to clock in for a second period in RAF, but the story didn’t change. He walked through Gilbert Burns, piled up points, and walked out of RAF 13 with another dominant win and a 3-0 record in the promotion.
The scoreline said 15-4. The performance said something louder: he’s coming for a belt.
Chimaev pushed, but never shaken
For the first time in RAF, Chimaev didn’t blitz an opponent out of there in a single period. Burns refused to fold, snatched takedowns, and forced the Chechen star to show his engine as well as his power.
Right from the opening whistle, Chimaev set the tone. A quick double-leg attempt sent Burns skidding out of bounds and banked the first point. Seconds later, Chimaev muscled through a clean four-point takedown and surged to a 5-0 lead, looking every bit the mauler his reputation promises.
Burns answered.
He drove forward with a sharp two-point takedown of his own, a reminder that he wasn’t there to be a prop in someone else’s highlight reel. That brief success only seemed to ignite Chimaev. He stormed back, chained his attacks, and powered through another sequence to stretch the margin to 11-2 as the first period closed.
Burns had already done something no one else had managed in RAF: he dragged Chimaev into a second period. It was a moral victory, but he wanted more.
High pace, high score, same result
The restart didn’t bring any respite. Burns came out aggressive again, latching onto Chimaev and finishing another two-point takedown to cut into the deficit. It was gutsy, it was defiant, and it briefly shifted the feel of the contest.
Then the hammer dropped.
Chimaev reset, changed levels, and drove through a booming double-leg. Burns crashed to the canvas, and the four-point move slammed the door on the match at 15-4. One surge, and it was over.
Burns walked away with credit and, on this evidence, a strong case to be invited back to RAF. He scored, he scrapped, and he forced Chimaev to work in ways no previous RAF opponent had.
Chimaev walked away with something more important: another statement win and a clear target.
Covington in his sights
Now 3-0 in RAF and untouched in terms of results, Chimaev is already thinking about hardware. Asked about a clash with RAF crossover champion Colby Covington, his response was simple and direct: Covington has the belt. That’s the fight.
Chimaev has mauled everyone since arriving in RAF. Covington, with his relentless pace and championship pedigree, would be the sternest test yet if the promotion can get it signed.
For now, the numbers tell the story: 15-4 on the night, 3-0 in RAF, and a man who doesn’t seem interested in slowing down until there’s gold around his waist.
