Belal Muhammad has given his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 308 co-main bill: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev. Just a division below, the workings of middleweight are just as important to the new 170-pound champ. The Whittaker-Chimaev fight rebooking is for UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi after their first one failed.
Given Khamzat Chimaev’s history of pullout strain, the UFC welterweight champion remains hopeful that the bout will occur. The potential No. 1 contender bout in the UFC 308 PPV co-main headliner came to be after “Borz” pulled out of UFC on ABC 6 in June. Now that the Chechen boogeyman seems all-in, Belal Muhammad recently outlined his expectations for the fight.
I’m just hoping that they make it a fight day, right? That’s one of those fights I can’t wait for it to come, and then to know that it’s a week away is huge…I got Khamzat taking him down. I don’t know, I have him by submission. We’ve seen Whittaker get taken down by du Plessis with like a headlock, and Khamzat’s wrestling is so good. To see how dominant he has been with wrestling.
Belal Muhammad to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Network (🎥: @SubmissionRadio on YT)
Muhammad backed Chimaev against Whittaker, highlighting the former’s wrestling talents. Despite fans billing him a snoozefest, the Team Valle Flow Striking grappler recently outboxed the champ and dominated through superior ground game to win gold. Hence, Muhammad knows its value all too well. He believes that apart from Dricus Du Plessis, Whittaker hasn’t really faced anyone who can take him down and sustain.
Robert Whittaker and his spatial control/ranged attacks are a work of art after all. Meanwhile, at a perfect 13-0 stat, Chimaev is infamous for his explosive bursts, lean-ins, a mix of striking, and takedowns. His pre-camp conditions often see him running out of gas mid-fight or falling sick due to rigorous training. But, Chimaev is preparing for it. ‘Reaper’ has his own counters he is prepping.
Robert Whittaker makes bold claim: Beating ‘Borz’ proves him best in the world right now
The UFC made another attempt to run up the clash of boogeymen at this month’s UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) top bill. Unbeaten sensation Khamzat Chimaev remains the highest of sought-after fighters in the MMA sphere. Meanwhile, Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) has only improved and is on a winning momentum.
The Team PMA Super Martial Arts Centre middleweight knows the wrestling challenges and how Chimaev will test his grappling. Even the Chechen “Borz”, his new camp, and old sparring or ring rivals choose him to dominate on the mat.
However, this won’t be the first time Whittaker has prepared for a strong grappler, having fought and beaten Yoel Romero twice and Ronaldo Souza. With an extended camp against the Chechen, if he finds success and beats him, the Aussie believes he has proved his worth once and for all.
You can bet your bottom dollar that I am training like an animal right now on the mats, …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…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.
Robert Whittaker via his ‘MMArcade Podcast’ (@MMArcadePodcast)| Episode 50; UFC on ESPN 62 Reaction Video
Chimaev has been training with Paris Olympian gold winner Razambek Zhamalov to prepare for UFC 308. Meanwhile, Whittaker has been putting in rounds with former IBF fame and current Lineal cruiserweight native boxer Jai Opetaia. However, he is also gearing up for range preparation, takedown defenses, and handling the beast on the ground.
Whittaker’s only losses at 185 are to former champion Israel Adesanya and current champion Du Plessis. So if he beats Chimaev, he treads ahead in the floated top contender battle. Should that happen, it will separate him from the rest of the 185-pound pack by a big margin.
