Robert Whittaker recently showered Dricus Du Plessis with praise, commending his fierce mentality and determination to secure victories in the Octagon. At UFC 305 last month, Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight crown for the first time, …
Robert Whittaker recently showered Dricus Du Plessis with praise, commending his fierce mentality and determination to secure victories in the Octagon. At UFC 305 last month, Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight crown for the first time, securing a stunning fourth-round submission victory over former champion Israel Adesanya—a win that Whittaker had confidently predicted beforehand. […]
Robert Whittaker is setting the record straight regarding his rescheduled scrap with Khamzat Chimaev. Originally, the two were expected…
Robert Whittaker is setting the record straight regarding his rescheduled scrap with Khamzat Chimaev.
Originally, the two were expected to headline UFC Saudi Arabia in June before ‘Borz’ was forced to bow out due to an undisclosed illness. Instead, Whittaker went on to score a first-round knockout against replacement opponent Ikram Aliskerov at the event. Now, the two are slated to meet on October 26 when the promotion heads back to Abu Dhabi for UFC 308.
The bout was set to co-main event the card as a five-round middleweight title eliminator, but a recent post on the UFC’s X account seemed to suggest that the fight had been demoted to three rounds.
With rumors beginning to swirl that the fight could once again be in jeopardy, ‘The Reaper’ attempted to quell concerns on Instagram. Responding to a fan inquiry regarding whether or not the fight would be three or five rounds, Whittaker confirmed that the contest is still on for the latter.
Robert Whittaker believes a win over ‘borz’ will establish him as the best middleweight in the world
With fight night six weeks away, the former UFC champion is leaving no stone unturned as he prepares to prove to the world that he is the best middleweight fighter in the world.
“You can bet your bottom dollar that I am training like an animal right now on the mats,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast. “I am sweating and bleeding and leaving it all there in preparation for this fight, and I’m coming into this fight to leave it all there.
“I don’t expect him to get tired or anything else. I expect him to come out aggressive and to be super scary in the wrestling and be very strong. I just think I’ve been in those waters before. I know how to tread. I’m good in there. I am the best middleweight in the world. Beating him will prove that, and I look forward to it.”
Since 2014, Robert Whittaker has only lost to two men inside the Octagon — two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya and current 185-pound champ Dricus Du Plessis. He has won three of his last four, including victories against Marvin Vettori, Paulo Costa, and the aforementioned Ikram Aliskerov.
As for Chimaev, UFC 308 will be the Chechen’s first fight since his majority decisive win over Kamaru Usman a year ago. ‘Borz’ is a perfect 13-0 in his mixed martial arts career, but his appearances inside the Octagon have been few and far between with him averaging roughly one fight per year.
With six cancelled bouts since 2020, Chimaev averages more withdrawals than he does actual fights. As a result, online sportsbook BegOnline.ag is allowing bettors to place a wager on weather or not Chimaev will bow out of UFC 308. The line opened at -140, meaning a $100 bet would net you $140 should ‘Borz’ not make it to Etihad Arena.
Overnight, eagle-eyed fans noticed an anticipated UFC 308 title eliminator between former champion, Robert Whittaker and the unbeaten, Khamzat…
Overnight, eagle-eyed fans noticed an anticipated UFC 308 title eliminator between former champion, Robert Whittaker and the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev was off as the slated co-main event in Abu Dhabi, UAE — before it was immediately redrafted as the night’s penultimate outing.
Whittaker, a former undisputed middleweight champion, most recently landed an impressive first round win over short-notice replacement, Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia — finishing the Russian with a stunning knockout victory in the promotion’s first outing in Riyadh.
As for Chechen-born challenger, Khamzat Chimaev, the unbeaten contender co-headlined UFC 294 back in October of last year against former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman in a controversial majority decision win in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev remains as UFC 308 co-main event fight in October
However, last night, fans speculated that Chimaev was out of his matchup with the Auckland-born ex-champion once more — with a heavyweight rematch between former interim champion, Ciryl Gane and Russian striker, Alexander Volkov drafted into a co-headlining clash.
UFC 308 takes place on October 28. from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with an undisputed featherweight championship fight between unbeaten titleholder, Ilia Topuria, and former champion, current symbolic BMF gold holder, Max Holloway slated to take main event status in the promotion’s flagship return to the Middle East.
Khamzat Chimaev is set to return to action at UFC 308 where his fight with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has been rescheduled for the co-main event. Despite the fact that he debuted in the UFC four years ago, it still feels like there are so many unanswered questions surrounding the undefeated contender. Chimaev has […]
Khamzat Chimaev is set to return to action at UFC 308 where his fight with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has been rescheduled for the co-main event.
Despite the fact that he debuted in the UFC four years ago, it still feels like there are so many unanswered questions surrounding the undefeated contender.
One of those athletes is the #5-ranked middleweight Caio Borralho who got some work in with Chimaev two years ago.
Caio Borralho Reflects On Experience Training With Khamzat Chimaev In Sweden
Borralho had two main takeaways from the time that he spent training with Chimaev in the past, as he detailed in a recent interview with Submission Radio.
“I already training with him, spent some time in Sweden with him for his training camp against Nate Diaz, the fight that never happened. I was there training with him every day, was my main sparring partner for this camp and I think it’s a very tough fight for Whittaker ‘cuz Khamzat has very great wrestling and there’s one thing about Khamzat that people don’t realize too much. They don’t know what kind of level to expect from him. Like they know by seeing but when feel it, think it’s a little bit different. This kind of level of wrestling, of grappling, I think the best wrestler in the division is Khamzat and we saw how he dominated Kamaru Usman, that’s a great, great wrestler.”
Along with his wrestling pedigree, the other major characteristic of Chimaev’s approach to MMA has been his intense work ethic.
Borralho gave some insight into this by detailing one particular session where “Borz” continued to work after completing the sparring session for the day.
“He trains a lot, like I didn’t see any other guy in my life that trains as much as he trains. Maybe that’s why sometimes he like kills his body and doesn’t make it to the fight but definitely a guy that over train everyone in the room. There was a time that we did like five rounds sparring and after sparring, he did like three or four rounds of pads and then after that, he did like a 30-minute run and I was like, ‘What the f*** is this guy doing?’”
Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC…
Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC Vegas 96, surging middleweight threat, Caio Borralho is on a fast track to the championship, however, admits he will have his hands full if he has to face the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev — labelling him his toughest training mate.
Borralho, who managed to scoop himself the number five rank at middleweight this week, turned in an impressive unanimous decision win over former title challenger, Jared Cannonier over the course of five rounds — landing in a headlining bout for the first time since his move to the organization.
Dropping the former title challenger in the final round, Borralho would ride out a unanimous judging victory over the ex-championship chaser, and made his intentions clear to fight the winner of an expected rematch between current champion, Dricus du Plessis, and former champion, Sean Strickland next.
Caio Borralho heaps praise on Khamzat Chimaev’s ability
However, the Fighting Nerds staple has shared some insight into some of the arduous training regimes he was put through during his time with Xtreme Couture — labeling Chechen star, Chimaev his most challenging partner due to his wrestling ability.
“Oh dude, for the sure the hardest guy to train [with] is Khamzat (Chimaev),” Caio Borralho told The Schmo. “He’s a very hard guy to train. His style, his wrestling background — he’s very good at wrestling. He goes hard all the rounds. I think he’s one of the hardest training to do.”
“I’ve been training with Sean Strickland, (Chris Curtis), too — very tough guys and hard training,” Caio Borralho explained. “Training with Sean Strickland is very hard, too, because he always pushes forward like screaming at your face. But, I think Khamzat is the guy who is most difficult to train with for sure. But he is the guy that I develop myself most.”
Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC…
Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC Vegas 96, surging middleweight threat, Caio Borralho is on a fast track to the championship, however, admits he will have his hands full if he has to face the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev — labelling him his toughest training mate.
Borralho, who managed to scoop himself the number five rank at middleweight this week, turned in an impressive unanimous decision win over former title challenger, Jared Cannonier over the course of five rounds — landing in a headlining bout for the first time since his move to the organization.
Dropping the former title challenger in the final round, Borralho would ride out a unanimous judging victory over the ex-championship chaser, and made his intentions clear to fight the winner of an expected rematch between current champion, Dricus du Plessis, and former champion, Sean Strickland next.
Caio Borralho heaps praise on Khamzat Chimaev’s ability
However, the Fighting Nerds staple has shared some insight into some of the arduous training regimes he was put through during his time with Xtreme Couture — labeling Chechen star, Chimaev his most challenging partner due to his wrestling ability.
“Oh dude, for the sure the hardest guy to train [with] is Khamzat (Chimaev),” Caio Borralho told The Schmo. “He’s a very hard guy to train. His style, his wrestling background — he’s very good at wrestling. He goes hard all the rounds. I think he’s one of the hardest training to do.”
“I’ve been training with Sean Strickland, (Chris Curtis), too — very tough guys and hard training,” Caio Borralho explained. “Training with Sean Strickland is very hard, too, because he always pushes forward like screaming at your face. But, I think Khamzat is the guy who is most difficult to train with for sure. But he is the guy that I develop myself most.”
Robert Whittaker is setting the record straight regarding his rescheduled scrap with Khamzat Chimaev. Originally, the two were expected…
Overnight, eagle-eyed fans noticed an anticipated UFC 308 title eliminator between former champion, Robert Whittaker and the unbeaten, Khamzat…
Off the back of his impressive victory over the course of the weekend in the main event of UFC…
