Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, who recently lost his title, is stepping away from the Octagon to compete in a professional wrestling event. According to a report by MMA Fighting on May 13, Chimaev will headline RAF 10 on June 14, facing Dillon Danis, the well-known jiu-jitsu coach of Conor McGregor.
Chimaev, who previously held a perfect 15-0 MMA record, suffered his first loss on May 10 in a split decision defeat (48-47, 47-48, 47-48) against Sean Strickland in a middleweight title defense. Now, he aims to bounce back in the wrestling arena.
The RAF organization had announced the signing of Chimaev at RAF 8 last month, but his fight with Strickland delayed the arrangement. Danis, often labeled a “bad boy” in combat sports, was banned from all UFC events after a brawl with Islam Makhachev’s teammates during UFC 322 in November 2025. Most recently, he lost by technical submission to UFC welterweight Colby Covington at RAF 7 in March. The upcoming bout marks Chimaev’s first appearance in the RAF circuit.
