Robert Whittaker picked up an essential in the principle occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia towards a harmful opponent, and shortly after, his initially scheduled opponent Khamzat Chimaev took the chance to reply.
Shortly after Whittaker scored a first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov—Chimaev’s substitute—in Saturday’s foremost occasion, the undefeated Chimaev commented on the consequence by way of social media.
Поздравляю @robwhittakermma мы не закончили дело!
Желаю скорейшего восстановления @ikram_aliskerov выше голову брат мой ☝— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) June 22, 2024
“Congratulations [Robert Whittaker], we aren’t executed,” Chimaev stated, in keeping with a Google translation on Twitter. “I want you a speedy restoration [Ikram Aliskerov], preserve your head up my brother.”
Talking with reporters following his second consecutive victory, Whittaker was requested about Chimaev’s feedback, and Whittaker laughed it off whereas additionally telling Chimaev to pump the brakes just a little bit contemplating he simply accomplished a struggle.
“Don’t soar me as quickly as I end a struggle,” Whittaker stated in the course of the night’s post-fight press convention. “I don’t need individuals to do this — I say that, however I most likely did that a couple of times as effectively. Let me have this one for just a little bit, all proper? We are able to settle the rating one other day.”
Chimaev was pressured to withdraw from the matchup towards Whittaker after falling ailing lower than two weeks earlier than the UFC’s first journey to Saudi Arabia. It could have been Chimaev’s first struggle of the yr, and first since his majority determination win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 this previous October.
In his post-fight interview, Whittaker expressed curiosity in being a backup for the UFC 305 middleweight championship headliner between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. When requested if he would compete on that card towards a special opponent in Perth, Whittaker says he must have some conversations earlier than makes that call.
“It’s on house soil, I plan to be there a method or one other,” Whittaker stated. “However I do want to return and discuss to my staff. I would like to speak to my staff about it. We’ve set to work on the opposite guys who’re making ready. I took this struggle and it kind pushed plenty of issues round. I wish to return and discuss to my staff.
“Perth, it’s in my house turf. However, yeah, let me discuss to my staff.”
