ABU DHABI – Khamzat Chimaev is assured he’ll be capable of take Robert Whittaker to his world with ease.
Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) meets Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main occasion at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi (pay-per-view, ESPN+). When requested if he thinks he may stand with Whittaker, Chimaev mentioned he doesn’t see the struggle taking part in on the market.
“Who did cease my takedowns?” Chimaev instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “No one. So, I don’t suppose this man can be completely different. Kamaru Usman has been a fantastic champ, and he took down everybody. However I took him down. I dominate him within the rounds simple. What’s going to be completely different with taekwondo or karate man in comparison with Usman, who’s been a wrestler? He was an expert wrestler earlier than.”
Chimaev hasn’t competed since defeating former UFC welterweight champion Usman final October at UFC 294. He has not too long ago skilled some well being points and appeared to decelerate late in his latest wins over Gilbert Burns and Usman.
However Chimaev assures that regardless of this being his first scheduled five-round struggle, he’s nonetheless going to storm out of the gate like at all times.
“I’ve been pushing from first second to final second in my sparring, however I don’t suppose it will likely be completely different within the cage, as nicely,” Chimaev mentioned. “I didn’t say something about my well being earlier than the Usman struggle, so everybody thinks Khamzat went into the cage wholesome, nevertheless it wasn’t that. I used to be sick within the morning earlier than the struggle. I didn’t discover an excuse. I didn’t cry.”
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