Khamzat Chimaev made a swift and impactful debut at RAF 10, securing a decisive victory over jiu-jitsu specialist Dillon Danis in the main event. The fight concluded in under a minute of the first round when Chimaev executed a takedown and pinned Danis to the mat for the win.
Following the referee’s stoppage, Danis maintained a guillotine choke on Chimaev. Once free, a verbal exchange escalated into a physical confrontation when Chimaev shoved Danis as he rose to his feet, prompting Danis to attempt a kick. Chimaev retaliated with a kick of his own while Danis was still on the mat.
The incident triggered a large-scale brawl, with officials attempting to separate the fighters as members from both camps rushed into the ring.
The pre-fight build-up to RAF 10 was marked by Danis’s consistent taunts and challenges towards Chimaev. While Chimaev generally maintained composure, the post-match altercation suggests he was provoked beyond his limits by Danis’s actions during their wrestling match.
This is not Danis’s first involvement in post-fight disturbances. He was previously involved in an altercation with Dagestani fighters at UFC 322, which resulted in a ban from UFC events. Danis also participated in the infamous brawl following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s submission victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
MMA Community Reacts to Chimaev’s Dominance and the Brawl
The MMA community reacted swiftly to the events at RAF 10. Many users humorously noted Danis’s tendency to be involved in post-fight chaos, with one comment stating, “Bro, everywhere Dillon Danis fights turns into super smash bros melee.” Others expressed surprise at Danis’s actions, with one user remarking, “I can believe this guy trained Conor McGregor.” Another comment read, “Another insulting night for Dillon Danis.”
A breakdown of the incident from a wrestling perspective explained Chimaev’s reaction: “For the wrestlers & @rafwrestlingusa, since you may not understand what happened, Danis put a high elbow guillotine on Chimaev. This is a submission that cuts the circulation off to the brain. He showed his character flicking off the camera every chance he got, but then played dirty on top of that. You don’t need people like this. Keep your name clean.”
Further reactions from the MMA world highlighted the chaotic nature of the event and the perceived behavior of both fighters.