Despite coming into the fight fully prepared to face the Chechen juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round middleweight battle, former champion Robert Whittaker’s journey was cut short earlier this month in just one round. Chimaev entered the octagon at UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, and despite Whittaker’s intense preparations, he was quickly submitted with a rear-naked choke, resulting in an injured jaw. The submission resembled what Khabib Nurmagomedov did to Conor McGregor six years ago.

Despite the defeat and injury, Whittaker remains composed and bears no ill will towards Chimaev. It’s no surprise that he continues to hold the No. 4 spot in the UFC rankings. Weeks after the fight, Whittaker reflected on the bout and acknowledged Chimaev’s impressive performance. Now, let’s see what Whittaker has to say about the Chechen wolf.

Robert Whittaker commends Khamzat Chimaev’s “Takedown”

Robert Whittaker recently appeared on the MMArcade podcast on YouTube, where he shared updates on his recovery from the injuries sustained in his fight against Khamzat Chimaev. Fully healed and in high spirits, Whittaker joined host Jonny to discuss trending topics in the UFC. However, before diving into broader discussions, Whittaker took a moment to reflect on his loss to Chimaev.

Despite the defeat, Whittaker expressed satisfaction with his overall performance and praised Chimaev’s wrestling abilities. He stated, “We did a lot of wrestling, we did a lot of stuff, we did a lot of war work. But, mate, it’s so hard to replicate that sort of takedown, that sort of commitment. Props to him—the guy knows his strengths, played into them to a T, and is willing to burn it all there for it, right? Anyway, the takedown—he goes in, ankle picks me off the fence. It was a great takedown, it was a beautiful takedown.”

While Robert Whittaker acknowledged Chimaev’s technical skills, he clarified that he didn’t find Chimaev to be overwhelmingly powerful. Instead, he commended Chimaev’s weight distribution during the rear-naked choke that sealed the fight. Whittaker explained, “He has a really heavy sag. He’s not ridiculously strong or anything like that, but he has a really heavy sag. And he was really good at making me work—always kind of reaching for underhooks, reaching for ankle picks, trying to get a hook in.”

With this victory, Khamzat Chimaev made a significant leap in the middleweight rankings, jumping ten spots to claim the No. 3 position. On the other hand, Whittaker’s loss saw him drop a spot in the division rankings, setting him back in his pursuit of another title shot. Rumors have been swirling about Whittaker’s potential return in February 2025, possibly against Dricus du Plessis in Sydney. However, the latest update from Whittaker seems to suggest a different direction altogether.

Robert Whittaker disrupts Dricus Du Plessis’ return timeline

Dricus Du Plessis has been out of the Octagon since defending his title for the first time against Israel Adesanya at UFC Perth. While seeking an appropriate opponent for his next bout, much is happening in the division. What could be better than returning to Australia, where he defended his title, but this time in Sydney? According to Du Plessis’ longtime coach, who revealed last month, “There is only one thing certain at this stage, only one thing,” a rematch with Robert Whittaker seemed likely. However, this prediction came before UFC 308 concluded.

The aftermath of UFC 308 has changed the dynamics. Whittaker’s tooth injury turned the tide for Du Plessis’ aspirations. ‘The Reaper’ recently underwent surgery to remove his middle teeth, which had been weak since his teenage years but worsened due to his fighting career.

Robert Whittaker’s coach, Alex Prates, recently provided a health update while speaking to Sherdog, saying, “After he had his six teeth implanted, he returned to training on Monday, but without any contact. He will train Muay Thai, run, everything — but without contact. Maybe he will still have an operation on his elbow to remove some bone fragments, but we haven’t decided yet. It’s a minor surgery, but it would cost another month. Our plan is to return to the Octagon in June.”

What are your thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev’s performance at UFC 308? Would you consider his win over Robert Whittaker one of the standout moments of his career so far? And who do you think should be his next opponent? Let us know your opinion!