Kamaru
Usman believes Khamzat
Chimaev will beat Robert
Whittaker at UFC
308.
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Chimaev and Whittaker will clash in a high-caliber middleweight
bout in the co-main event at UFC 308 on Saturday at the Etihad
Arena in Abu Dhabi. While Chimaev has opened as a betting favorite,
many consider it a pick ‘em matchup.
Usman, who has previously shared the Octagon with Chimaev, favous
the Chechen-born Swede over Whittaker. Whittaker and Chimaev were
originally scheduled to fight at
UFC Saudi Arabia in June, but “Borz” was forced to pull out due
to illness. Whittaker went on to score a first-round finish over
highly-touted debutant Ikram
Aliskerov, whose only other career loss came against Chimaev on
the regional circuit. While Usman acknowledged Whittaker’s elite
skillset, “The Nigerian Nightmare” feels Chimaev is just gifted.
Although Whittaker boasts strong anti-grappling abilities at
middleweight, Usman believes Chimaev will be able to impose his
wrestling on “Bobby Knuckles.”
On a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast,
Henry
Cejudo picked Whittaker to finish Chimaev. However, Usman
disagreed, comparing the former two-division UFC champ’s
perspective to that of a casual fan.
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“I don’t think you’re too harsh. I think a lot of casual fans feel
the same way that you feel,” Usman said. “And Robert Whittaker is a
guy that can grapple, or stop you from grappling, a guy that can
put together the combinations that potentially get you out of
there. I think Khamzat Chimaev is just special. If he is able to
get his hands on you and drag you down to the ground, I think he is
able to impose his will down there and potentially get that finish…
Let me just keep it short… I love Robert Whittaker. I think Robert
Whittaker is super talented, especially what he just went out there
and did in disposing of Ikram. But if I had to choose, I’m gonna go
with Khamzat Chimaev.”
Usman and Chimaev met in a middleweight clash at UFC 294 in October
2023, which marked the latter’s debut at 185 pounds. Chimaev scored
a hard-earned majority decision win over the former welterweight
champ and has since been dealing with lingering health issues.
Usman also hasn’t fought since and currently stands at a crossroads
in his career on the back of a three fight-slump that includes two
title losses.
Meanwhile, Whittaker comes off consecutive wins over top-tier
competition, which saw him rebound from a TKO loss against current
champ Dricus Du
Plessis.