Robert Whittaker’s quest for UFC gold has stopped once again. He was overwhelmed by Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, succumbing to a takedown and a first-round submission. The finish was brutal and decisive, leaving fans concerned for Whittaker’s well-being. However, it turns out that the damage wasn’t as severe as initially feared.
Following the fight, a viral photo showed Whittaker with his lower teeth visibly misaligned, suggesting he had displaced his jaw. A popular sports doctor made a YouTube video analyzing the image and came to the same conclusion. However, in the latest interview after the fight, Whittaker revealed that his jaw is fine, but his teeth are not.
It wasn’t the jaw it’s the teeth. The teeth got pushed in. I have always had the kind of like loose teeth….they’re vulnerable. It’s my Achilles heel. I’ve had them pushed in before when I fought Dricus, and they’ve never really recovered…It’s from an injury when I was young
Robert Whittaker via Red Corner MMA
Whittaker mentioned that the neck crank was too quick for him to move his face, costing him the fight. According to the ‘Reaper,’ he will have some problems eating, but everything else is fine. Nevertheless, fight fans were relieved after learning Whittaker’s situation wasn’t as critical as many imagined.
Robert Whittaker talks about his injury and says his teeth have always been vulnerable since he was young:
“My bottom teeth, they’re vulnerable. It’s my Achilles heel. I’ve had them pushed in before when I fought Dricus, and they’ve never really recovered…
It’s from an injury… pic.twitter.com/w9bbgresmS
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 27, 2024
The former middleweight champion entered the fight with tremendous momentum, eager to carry it through to reclaim the middleweight title. He felt prepared to face Chimaev’s exceptional wrestling skills and wanted to finish his opponent. However, the outcome starkly differed from what the former champion envisioned.
UFC veteran reacts to Khamzat Chimaev’s brutal finish against Robert Whittaker
Khamzat Chimaev made a statement at UFC 308 about why he’s the biggest threat to the middleweight crown. The ‘Borz’ took down and finished one of the best divisions in the very first round. As many had predicted, the Chechen star’s wrestling was too much for Robert Whittaker to handle.
In the lead-up to the fight, Chimaev displayed a noticeably calmer demeanor at the press conference. He chose to avoid trash-talking Whittaker, showing respect for his opponent. However, once inside the octagon, Chimaev was all business. UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen was left astonished by the finish.
It was an interesting position and the finish itself, what are we calling it guys? That wasn’t a tap out due to a rear naked choke…that was pain.
Chael Sonnen via his YouTube channel
After the fight, Chimaev immediately asked UFC CEO Dana White to give him the middleweight title shot. The champion, Dricus Du Plessis, will most probably defend his title next year against Sean Strickland. As such, he remains next in line for the title shot, if not the very next title challenger.
