Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is set to return to action just weeks after his first career defeat, facing Conor McGregor's training partner Dillon Danis at RAF 10.
Khamzat Chimaev, the former UFC middleweight champion, is making a quick turnaround after suffering his first career defeat. The Chechen-born fighter will be competing against Dillon Danis, a training partner of Conor McGregor, at the upcoming RAF 10 event. This bout will take place on June 13 at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, and will serve as the main event.
Chimaev's last outing was a gruelling five-round contest against Sean Strickland, where he suffered a narrow split-decision loss. Despite dominating the opening round with his wrestling, Chimaev was unable to secure the win, with Strickland making a comeback in the second round and defending takedowns for the remainder of the fight. The judges' scorecards reflected the closely contested nature of the bout, with two judges scoring in favour of Strickland and one judge scoring for Chimaev.
The loss to Strickland was Chimaev's first title defence, having previously won the title with a unanimous decision victory over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. Chimaev's performance in the bout raised questions about his ability to make the 185lb weight limit, with many speculating that he may be better suited to competing in the light heavyweight division. In the aftermath of the fight, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Chimaev had expressed his intention to move up to the light heavyweight division.
Chimaev's upcoming bout against Danis will be an opportunity for him to get back to winning ways and prove himself as a formidable competitor. He will be joined on the card by his teammate Arman Tsarukyan, who will be facing off against UFC legend Tony Ferguson in a highly anticipated clash. Additionally, UFC featherweight contender Aaron Pico will be competing against Lance Palmer, making for an exciting lineup of fights at RAF 10.
As Chimaev prepares to face Danis, he will be looking to put his recent loss behind him and demonstrate his skills as a fighter. With his wrestling background and aggressive fighting style, Chimaev is a force to be reckoned with in the octagon, and his bout against Danis is sure to be an exciting one. With the event just weeks away, fans will be eagerly anticipating the return of "Borz" to action and the opportunity to see him compete against a tough opponent.
