Unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has known as for his June return in opposition to former undisputed champion, Robert Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia to function the first-ever 10 spherical restrict bout, between himself and the fan-favorite striker.
Chimaev, the present quantity eleven ranked middleweight challenger, improved to 13-0 as an expert final October in Abu Dhabi, handing over a detailed, majority resolution win over former undisputed welterweight champion and prior pound-for-pound primary, Kamaru Usman in a short-notice conflict.
And as for Whittaker, the Auckland-born contender returned from his summer time knockout loss to present champion, Dricus du Plessis final summer time with a February resolution win over ex-title challenger, Paulo Costa.
Khamzat Chimaev requires 10 spherical restrict for struggle with Robert Whittaker
In a now-deleted publish on his official X account, Chimaev urged promotional boss, Dana White to ebook him the first-ever 10 spherical bout within the historical past of the group in opposition to Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia.
“10 rounds let’s go first ever time let’s do it @ufc @danawhite,” Khamzat Chimaev posted on his official X account. (H/T @ChampRDS)
Struggling by the second spherical onwards amid a grasp ligament damage suffered in opposition to Usman paired with obvious fatigue, Chimaev has already been warned concerning the potential of him “gassing” out in opposition to Whittaker in June by Corridor of Fame star, Michael Bisping – even earlier than he known as for a ten spherical struggle.
“Mechanically, in case you’re within the nook of Khamzat Chimaev, you’ve received to be involved,” Michael Bisping stated. “One factor Robert Whittaker will not be going to do is run out of gasoline. He’s a really, very skilled fighter, preventing on the highest degree for a very long time. With out entering into the Xs and Os, the apparent issues is Khamzat all the time gasses.”
“He’s an incredible pressure of nature, the way in which he takes individuals down and dominates them proper from the opening bell,” Bisping defined. “He did the identical factor in opposition to Kamaru Usman. Granted, didn’t get the end, however he undoubtedly did decelerate. In opposition to Gilbert Burns, identical factor. He had an incredible spherical one, [rounds] two and three had been sort of shut. 5 rounds in opposition to any person like Robert Whittaker, if he can’t end him early, that could possibly be a disastrous evening for him in Saudi Arabia.”
Who wins at UFC Saudi Arabia in June: Robert Whittaker or Khamzat Chimaev?
