“The Rankings Are There for a Reason”- Former Champion Robert Whittaker Closed the Door on a Welcome Fight for Khamzat Chimaev at Middleweight

Weight misses are unfortunately a common occurrence in the world of MMA. However, Khamzat Chimaev‘s weight miss at UFC 279 was particularly egregious. Missing the welterweight limit by more than eight pounds, UFC officials had to change the entire fight card of the PPV. Originally slated to face Nate Diaz, Chimaev ended up fighting Kevin Holland. Chimaev won in a dominant fashion, but that was the last of what fans saw of Chimaev.

Chimaev has been heavily criticized by his peers for his weight miss and subsequent absence from the octagon. Although ‘Borz’ has called out many fighters, his next UFC appearance is not solidified. During a recent appearance on ‘The MMA Hour’ With Ariel Helwani, top middleweight contender Robert Whittaker spoke out about Chimaev.

Robert Whittaker dismisses a fight against Khamzat Chimaev

When asked about fighting Chimaev, Whittaker indirectly denied it. He stated that Chimaev was not ranked in the division and that he does not like fighters grasping top fights without working hard for them. ‘The Reaper’ believes that the rankings are there for a reason and that fighters should work their way up the division to earn a shot at the top-ranked opponents.

“Chimaev, he’s not in the division rankings. I’m not a huge fan of guys just sliding in and fighting wherever they want. It’s a different place. The rankings are there for a reason, right?”

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The 32-year-old fighter went on to say that he likes fighting the top five guys. This is because they’re the best of the best and have earned their place in the division through hard work and dedication. Whittaker believes that it’s much harder to work your way through a division than it is to just slide in at the top.

“I like fighting top-ranked five guys because they’re the best of the best and they’ve earned and worked their way through the division to get there. It is so much harder to work your way through a division than to just slide in at the top”.

Is Robert Whittaker not fighting Paulo Costa?

In the same interview, Whittaker also talked about Paulo Costa. Whittaker and Costa were initially rumored to have a fight, and fans were excited about this match-up. However, things never materialized.

Whittaker revealed that Costa dodged him twice, and he does not want to fight ‘The Eraser’ anymore. “Costa upset me. I’m not fighting him, because this was the second time I was supposed to fight him and he’s pulled out,” said Whittaker.

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Whittaker’s last fight was back in September 2022. Fans are eager to see the former middleweight champion back in action. Who do you think will be Whittaker’s next opponent? Do let us know in the comments below.