(Video) Khamzat Chimaev vs Dillon Danis RAF Bout Turns Into a Major Brawl Before Security Intervenes

Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev ignites a major brawl after defeating Dillon Danis at RAF 10.

(Video) Khamzat Chimaev vs Dillon Danis RAF Bout Turns Into a Major Brawl Before Security Intervenes

Khamzat Chimaev gets into brawl with Dillon Danis (via Instagram)

After a loss at UFC 328, many believed Khamzat Chimaev’s intimidating aura had faded. However, the Chechen phenom moved to silence those doubts at RAF 10 against Dillon Danis in St. Louis, Missouri. Chimaev secured a dominant victory, but the event erupted into chaos after Chimaev kicked and struck Danis post-fight, triggering a mass brawl involving both teams.

The RAF 10 main event in St. Louis saw Chimaev face Danis in a freestyle wrestling bout at Chaifetz Arena. Chimaev quickly secured full control with an early takedown and heavy top pressure throughout the exchange. He finished the controversial star with a first-period fall in under a minute of action. Tensions immediately escalated after the bout officially ended, setting off a heated post-fight confrontation.

After the match ended, tensions escalated during the post-fight interaction on the mat at Chaifetz Arena. Danis briefly held onto Chimaev after the stoppage, triggering the first confrontation between them. The former UFC champion responded with a kick, and Danis fired back, turning it into an exchange of strikes. Both corners rushed in moments later, escalating the scene into a brawl before security restored order.

This was not the first mass brawl under the RAF banner, which has seen similar post-fight chaos before. Chimaev’s teammate Arman Tsarukyan was previously involved in an altercation following his RAF 06 bout, when he punched Georgio Poullas. At RAF 10, the Armenian star who had just beaten Tony Ferguson via 10-0 tech fall in the co-main event was notably absent from the Chimaev–Danis brawl.

Chimaev has a documented history of backstage altercations throughout his career. At UFC 279 in 2022, he was involved in a major melee with Kevin Holland and members of Nate Diaz’s team, escalating into shoves and a front kick exchange before security intervened. More recently at UFC Qatar, he had a heated backstage confrontation with Ian Machado Garry that briefly escalated before officials separated them.

The event also featured a strong showing from Aaron Pico, a teammate of Chimaev who trains alongside him at Training Labs and Santo Studio, as he secured a win in his promotional debut over Lance Palmer at RAF 10. His performance added another competitive highlight to the card outside the main event. However, the night’s lasting focus remained the brawl between Khamzat Chimaev and Dillon Danis.

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Khamzat Chimaev was inches away from landing a punch on Dillon Danis before being tackled

Khamzat Chimaev and Dillon Danis have engaged in years of public hostility on social media. Danis trolled ‘Borz’ for pulling out of his scheduled bout against Leon Edwards in January 2021 due to COVID-19 complications. He also repeatedly challenged him to MMA and wrestling matches during online exchanges. Both men even agreed to settle the rivalry in a street fight before their RAF 10 meeting.

Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev (via Yahoo Sports)

The RAF 10 event at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis was attended by combat sports figures and social media influencers. One of them was bodybuilder Larry Wheels, who streamed the event live on Kick. Wheels captured the chaotic brawl between Chimaev and Danis as it unfolded. The footage showed the Chechen phenom pushing through security while trying to reach Danis before being restrained by the referee.

The footage further reinforced how quickly chaotic situations can develop when Dillon Danis is involved. ‘El Jefe’ was notably part of the infamous post-fight brawl at UFC 229 after Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped the cage following his victory over Conor McGregor. More recently, he was involved in an octagon-side altercation with members of Islam Makhachev’s team during UFC 322 fight week

Larry Wheels’ presence at RAF 10 was also notable because he is scheduled to compete at RAF 12 in August 2026. The popular bodybuilder is set to face Mike ‘Tarzan’ Holston at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, in his wrestling debut. While Wheels left St. Louis with valuable footage from the event, the night’s lasting image was the chaos surrounding Khamzat Chimaev and Dillon Danis.

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