UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Chimaev, Live from Kingdom Arena in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was an outset into new territory. Before it could touch base, one-half of the matchup might have pulled out. Reports suggest Khamzat Chimaev has stuck to his moniker of being the boogeyman and not making it to the fight.
‘Borz’ was set to fight Robert Whittaker in the UFC on ABC 6 headliner on June 22 in Riyadh. Chimaev has shown a tendency to slow his roll of octagon appearances in the recent past, despite initiating multiple callouts. MMA enthusiast and insider Benny. P (@Bendaman2001) reported the matter. Major coverage sites picked up on it. Hours later, even the UFC confirmed it.
Little snippets and sparring footage from the Chechen were all fans had to go on, awaiting his return. Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) last fought a worn-out battle at UFC 294. Chimaev tended to slow down in recent wins over Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman but ultimately outlasted and outpointed them. Moreover, this was set to be his first 25-minute frame in the 30-year-old’s career.
Even though Chimaev boasts quite a grappling prowess, Whittaker had vowed to outpace him and hand him a first defeat, speaking to Fox Sports AU. Moreover, other than personal aspirations, the UFC on ABC 6 main event would have had clear No. 1 contender implications at middleweight. It would also open up UFC: Fight Night grinds in the Kingdom. Hence, the alleged pullout has taken MMA netizens by storm.
Fight Fans react to yet another possible pullout from Khamzat Chimaev
The main card of UFC on ABC 6: Whittaker vs. Chimaev (ABC/ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET) was to be the first time Khamzat Chimaev fought since Oct. 21, 2023. Many other fighters have contrarily taken bigger gaps; his haul was, however, pestering. Given that ‘Borz’ is always good to look out for.
Fans react to yet another possible Khamzat Chimaev pullout (Source: X/IMAGO)That hasn’t always been the case. Burns’ close loss to Chimaev at UFC 273 was subsequently one where he did not live up to the full hype. Kamaru Usman also faced him admirably on short notice while the Chechen fighter overexerted himself. But overall, the Team Allstars Training Center fighter is always an entertaining factor. Here’s what fans think of another possible pullout:
UFC will now scramble to put on back to back weekends?
— X (@fau1in) June 13, 2024
Omg cut this dude already.
— Raymond BT🔥 (@Raymond__BT) June 13, 2024
Strickland V Whittaker 303 main event? Probably finna be aliskerog v Whittaker for the fight night tho
— Alex 🪖 (@Cavs_Alexx) June 13, 2024
Chicken ran away
— Schwarzenegger Chauke (@eliotchauke1) June 13, 2024
Woot, because he would be defeated by a headkick?
— Jake (@Jakeisfak3) June 13, 2024
June started off so strong too
— AfterSound (@AfterSoundMusic) June 13, 2024
Lol fraud is out. I’m not surprised. Now hes going to get a fight against a scrub and then people are going to keep saying he is this great fighter. WRONG!!!
— Cap McQueen (@McQueenTeamMMA) June 13, 2024
This might be the biggest waste of potential we have have ever seen
— Jay🤼♂️ (@JayMMA4) June 13, 2024
I’m more disappointed about this than 303
— Roberto Garrido (@robertogrrd) June 13, 2024
Robert Whittaker is much more akin to Five Rounds. Out of respect, Chimaev, a freestyle wrestler, was outfitting himself with more striking techniques at Tiger Muay Thai. He, too, was looking forward to his matchup. However, fans haven’t allowed any lax or minimal forgiveness in jibing him down.
The match held much potential, after all. Concurrently, they have also billed this as the “June Curse.” Conor McGregor will return at UFC 303 on June 29, headliner at T-Mobile Arena. However, his iconic comeback hangs in limbo due to media unavailability and antics. Khamzat Chimaev, if true, only piles on to this. All in all, the matter has gone quite viral.
