Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is wasting no time getting back into competition following his title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
On Tuesday, Real American Freestyle (RAF) officially announced that Khamzat Chimaev will headline RAF 10 next month against controversial grappler and MMA personality Dillon Danis in a catchweight bout. The event is scheduled to take place on June 13 at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.
RAF first revealed Chimaev’s signing during RAF 8 in April, but the promotion had to wait until after UFC 328 before confirming his debut matchup. Chimaev entered last weekend as the UFC middleweight champion but suffered the first loss of his professional MMA career after dropping a split decision to Sean Strickland in the main event.
Despite the setback, Khamzat Chimaev appears determined to stay active while also keeping his focus on a possible UFC title rematch later this year.
Reports after UFC 328 suggested Chimaev told UFC CEO Dana White that he plans to move up to light heavyweight after a difficult weight cut to 185 pounds. Chimaev looked visibly drained during fight week and was the final fighter to successfully make weight ahead of the event.
Now, before making any decisions about his UFC future, Chimaev will test himself on the RAF mats against one of combat sports’ most polarizing figures.
Danis, who first gained attention as one of Conor McGregor’s training partners, built his reputation as a high-level grappler before transitioning into MMA and boxing. Although many once viewed him as one of the best jiu-jitsu specialists in the sport, Danis has spent recent years bouncing between different combat sports opportunities.
He made his RAF debut earlier this year at RAF 7, where he lost to former UFC interim title challenger Colby Covington via technical fall.
Chimaev’s close friend and UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has also signed with RAF and is expected to compete on the same card against former interim UFC champion Tony Ferguson.
While the wrestling match against Danis gives fans something new to watch, Khamzat Chimaev still has unfinished business inside the Octagon.
Shortly after his loss to Strickland, Chimaev posted a cryptic message online that read: “See you again soon,” fueling speculation about a possible rematch.
At the same time, the UFC middleweight title picture continues to move forward. Top contender Nassourdine Imavov remains one of the leading candidates for the next title shot, which could complicate Chimaev’s hopes of getting an immediate rematch.
Still, Chimaev’s team appears confident he will fight for UFC gold again sooner rather than later.
For now, though, Khamzat Chimaev is heading from the Octagon to the wrestling mats, where another high-profile showdown awaits against Dillon Danis at RAF 10.
