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 potential title shot on the road. The extremely anticipated struggle 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 struggle.
“I felt superb,” Whittaker stated on his MMArcade podcast. “The minimize was superb, I felt sturdy, I felt match, I used to be targeted, I used to be locked in. All the things was image good. Actually, I can’t say some other manner. So I bought in there and with a second of the struggle beginning, I felt actual comfy standing with him. Actual comfy. However then the dude drops to love a millimeter — how do you cease that takedown?!
“Understandably, we did quite a lot of wrestling, we did quite a lot of stuff, however mate, it’s so onerous to duplicate that kind of takedown, that kind of dedication. And props to him. The man is aware of his strengths and performed into them to a tee. He’s keen to burn all of it there for it.
“Anyway, takedown goes in, he ankle picks me off the fence” Whittaker continued. “It was a lovely 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 sturdy 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 energetic. …
“Even then, I knew that the squeeze that he was pushing on was going to be very onerous to maintain that all through the rounds. This was 5 rounds, proper? And I might really feel among 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 ugly damage and famous that he truly had issues together with his tooth for over a decade earlier than Chimaev’s submission lastly did them in.
Nonetheless, to dominate a former champion like Chimaev did is deeply spectacular and plenty of referred to 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 stated. “I feel he’s going to be a nightmare for lots of the dudes within the top-five, as a result of I don’t understand how you cease that takedown?
“I feel he ought to go straight to Dricus,” Whittaker added. “I don’t assume sitting out needs to be rewarded ever. Nevertheless it’s not my name, not my resolution.”
Chimaev is 14-0 in his skilled profession with eight wins contained in the UFC. He’s at the moment the No. 2-ranked middleweight within the MMA Combating International Rankings.
