Robert Whittaker foresees large issues for Khamzat Chimaev.
Whittaker and Chimaev confronted off within the co-main occasion of UFC 308 again in October, with a attainable title shot on the road. The extremely anticipated combat was scheduled for 5 rounds however solely ended up lasting one as Chimaev brutally completed Whittaker within the first with a face crank that dislocated a number of of Whittaker’s tooth. And for Whittaker it was all of the extra spectacular due to how good he felt heading into the combat.
“I felt wonderful,” Whittaker mentioned on his MMArcade podcast. “The reduce was wonderful, I felt robust, I felt match, I used to be centered, I used to be locked in. The whole lot was image good. Truthfully, I can’t say another means. So I received in there and with a second of the combat beginning, I felt actual snug standing with him. Actual snug. However then the dude drops to love a millimeter — how do you cease that takedown?!
“Understandably, we did plenty of wrestling, we did plenty of stuff, however mate, it’s so laborious to copy that form of takedown, that form of dedication. And props to him. The man is aware of his strengths and performed into them to a tee. He’s prepared to burn all of it there for it.
“Anyway, takedown goes in, he ankle picks me off the fence” Whittaker continued. “It was a wonderful takedown. However then we get to the wall work and I felt good. I understood, he has a very heavy sag. He’s not ridiculously robust or something like that however he had a very heavy sag, and he was actually good at making me work. He was actually good at ensuring he was lively. …
“Even then, I knew that the squeeze that he was pushing on was going to be very laborious to maintain that all through the rounds. This was 5 rounds, proper? And I may really feel a few of the area opening up in a while. However clearly it occurs, we transition after which he places his forearm throughout my face for the face crank.”
Whittaker has already recovered from the grotesque harm and famous that he really had issues together with his tooth for over a decade earlier than Chimaev’s submission lastly did them in.
However, to dominate a former champion like Chimaev did is deeply spectacular and plenty of known as for Chimaev to get the following crack at UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. That won’t occur although as UFC CEO Dana White beforehand declared former champion Sean Strickland as subsequent in line, although he was much less committal following UFC 308. And for Whittaker, it’s clear who ought to get the following crack at du Plessis.
“I’m to see what he does subsequent,” Whittaker mentioned. “I believe he’s going to be a nightmare for lots of the dudes within the top-five, as a result of I don’t know the way you cease that takedown?
“I believe he ought to go straight to Dricus,” Whittaker added. “I don’t suppose sitting out ought to be rewarded ever. However it’s not my name, not my choice.”
Chimaev is 14-0 in his skilled profession with eight wins contained in the UFC. He’s presently the No. 2-ranked middleweight within the MMA Combating World Rankings.
