Khamzat Chimaev isn’t wasting any time getting back into competition after suffering the first loss of his professional MMA career at UFC 328.
Just days after dropping the middleweight title to Sean Strickland in a grueling five-round battle, Chimaev already has his next matchup booked, though it won’t take place inside the Octagon.
Instead, “Borz” will return to the wrestling mats next month as part of Real American Freestyle’s upcoming RAF 10 event in St. Louis.
The matchup marks Chimaev’s promotional debut for RAF and his first official wrestling appearance in several years.
His opponent will be none other than Dillon Danis, the controversial grappling specialist and longtime combat sports agitator who recently competed under the RAF banner against former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dillon Danis Booked For RAF 10
RAF officially announced the matchup on Tuesday, confirming the bout will headline RAF 10 on June 13 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.
The event comes less than a week after “Borz” lost a split decision to Strickland at UFC 328, ending both his undefeated MMA streak and his short-lived middleweight title reign.
While the Chechen star remains focused on eventually reclaiming UFC gold, the RAF appearance gives him an opportunity to stay active without immediately jumping back into another brutal MMA training camp.
It also potentially signals the beginning of his long-rumored move to light heavyweight. Chimaev has openly discussed being finished with difficult middleweight weight cuts, and competing in a heavier wrestling matchup could serve as a transition toward a future UFC run at 205 pounds.
Danis, meanwhile, enters the matchup looking to rebound after losing to Covington via technical fall during his RAF debut earlier this year. Once viewed as one of the elite grapplers in the sport, Danis initially rose to prominence as a training partner of Conor McGregor before building his own polarizing reputation through MMA, boxing, and social media controversies.
RAF 10 will also feature additional high-profile names, including Tony Ferguson vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Aaron Pico vs. Lance Palmer.