Robert
Whittaker doesn’t see anyone stopping Khamzat
Chimaev’s takedowns.

Chimaev submitted “Bobby Knuckles” in the first round of their
UFC
308 co-main event clash at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this
past October. While the matchup was expected to be a title
eliminator, former champ Sean
Strickland received the next title shot against Dricus Du
Plessis, as was promised by UFC CEO Dana White.

Strickland lost his title via controversial split decision against
Du Plessis at UFC 297 this past January in Canada. “Tarzan” bounced
back with a split-decision win over Paulo Costa
at UFC 302 in June and has since been adamant on waiting for a
rematch against the champ. Meanwhile, “Stillknocks” defended his
title with a submission win over Israel
Adesanya at UFC 305 in August. The South African will now meet
Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312
on Feb. 8 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Whittaker
believes the outcome of the rematch between du Plessis and
Strickland won’t be any different from their first encounter.

“I don’t see the fight going any different,” Whittaker said on the
MMA Arcade podcast. “Du Plessis [is] such a dog in there. He’s
gonna come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could
Sean do differently to change the outcome?”

Meanwhile, Chimaev has already been trading barbs with Strickland
and will be in attendance for UFC 312 in Sydney. Whittaker believes
the next likely contender, Chimaev, beats both Strickland and Du
Plessis. While Whittaker isn’t sure if “Borz” can beat them in
dominant fashion, he is sure the Chechen-born Swede can decision
them like he did Kamaru
Usman and Gilbert
Burns — the only two times he went the distance in his
career.

“I think he just takes them down and does the same thing like — not
necessarily to me — but how he beat Usman,” Whittaker said. “Or how
he beat [Gilbert] Burns… I think he would have more success with
Strickland than du Plessis. Because Du Plessis is like a big
dude… But ultimately, I don’t know, stopping that first takedown
is so crazy. The way he shoots in that first shot is crazy. How do
you stop that dude? Jump over him?”

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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