Khamzat Chimaev is stepping back into competition less than a month after suffering the first loss of his professional MMA career. The former UFC middleweight champion is officially set to headline RAF 10 against Dillon Danis on June 13 at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.
The matchup marks Chimaev’s debut for Real American Freestyle, the growing wrestling promotion that has quickly attracted several recognizable MMA names. The announcement came just days after Chimaev dropped a split decision to Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328.
For Chimaev, the quick turnaround sends a clear message. The 32 year old is eager to stay active and move past a disappointing night inside the Octagon.
Khamzat Chimaev returns to his wrestling roots
Long before his rise in the UFC, Chimaev built a strong wrestling background in Sweden. He captured three Swedish national freestyle wrestling championships between 2016 and 2018 and developed the grappling style that later made him one of the most feared fighters in mixed martial arts.
His wrestling dominance became a key part of his unbeaten run in the UFC before Strickland handed him his first defeat last weekend. While many expected Chimaev to take time away after losing the belt, he instead chose to jump directly into another major competition.
Khamzat is getting right back on the horse,
the RAF announcement stated while confirming the bout.
This will also be Chimaev’s first official wrestling appearance since defeating fellow UFC fighter Jack Hermansson at Bulldog Fight Night 9 in 2021.
Dillon Danis gets another major spotlight opportunity
Danis enters the contest looking to bounce back after a difficult RAF debut earlier this year. The longtime training partner of Conor McGregor competed at RAF 7 in March, where he lost to Colby Covington by technical fall.
Despite the loss, RAF officials have continued to position Danis in major matchups because of his name value and grappling credentials. Danis remains a respected jiu jitsu black belt and has continued exploring opportunities across combat sports.
Last August, he captured the inaugural Misfits MMA title with a 15 second submission victory over Warren Spencer. He has also competed in boxing and MMA in recent years while maintaining a strong presence online.
Now, he faces perhaps the toughest grappling test of his career against one of the strongest wrestlers currently competing in combat sports.
UFC stars continue joining RAF
RAF has steadily built attention by signing recognizable MMA fighters and pairing them in freestyle wrestling matches. RAF 10 may be the promotion’s most stacked lineup so far.
Alongside Chimaev versus Danis, the card will also feature Tony Ferguson taking on Arman Tsarukyan. Another featured matchup sees Lance Palmer face Aaron Pico.
Tsarukyan has already become one of the biggest UFC names attached to RAF, and Chimaev’s arrival further boosts the promotion’s profile.
The organization appears focused on blending high level wrestling with MMA star power, creating events that appeal to both hardcore grappling fans and mainstream fight audiences.
Questions remain about Chimaev’s UFC future
Even with the RAF matchup booked, attention still surrounds what comes next for Chimaev in the UFC.
Reports following UFC 328 suggested Chimaev may consider moving up to light heavyweight after struggling during his weight cut. He reportedly looked exhausted during fight week and barely made the middleweight limit before the title defense against Strickland.
There is also speculation about a possible rematch later this year. Chimaev’s camp has hinted that he wants another shot at Strickland, though the title picture remains crowded with contenders like Nassourdine Imavov waiting for their opportunity.
For now, however, Khamzat Chimaev’s focus shifts away from the UFC and back toward the wrestling mats where much of his combat sports identity was first built.
RAF 10 could offer him the perfect stage to rebuild momentum, remind people of his elite grappling pedigree, and deliver a statement performance after the toughest setback of his career.
Follow FIGHTCORE for more updates.
