Khamzat Chimaev's Next Fight After Strickland Loss

Khamzat Chimaev will headline RAF 10 against Dillon Danis on June 13 in St. Louis, Missouri — that comes just days after Chimaev suffered the first loss of his professional career at UFC 328.

Last Saturday in Newark, Chimaev dropped his UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland via split decision in the first defence of the belt he had claimed with a dominant win over Dricus du Plessis. The loss arrived alongside reports that he struggled to make the middleweight limit — adding uncertainty to the question of where he competes next.

Two paths have been discussed for Chimaev's UFC future. He has publicly requested a rematch with Strickland, which would most likely be contested at middleweight given the title implications. Separately, reports have circulated that Chimaev may move up to light heavyweight to alleviate the weight issues that have followed him at 185 pounds.

"The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight that Khamzat wants, he is obsessed with it. That's the only fight he will accept right now,” Chimaev’s camp

In the meantime, the RAF booking gives Chimaev an opportunity to stay active and compete on his own terms in a grappling format that suits his background. Danis, a Bellator veteran and jiu-jitsu practitioner who has spent considerable time in the public eye beyond his fighting career, provides a recognisable name for an event that will carry additional interest given the timing of the announcement.