Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker shouldn’t be afraid to tussle on the bottom with Khamzat Chimaev when obligatory.
Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) takes on Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) within the UFC on ABC 6 primary occasion June 22 at Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Chimaev has mauled quite a few fighters on the bottom – together with Kamaru Usman in Spherical 1 of their UFC 294 battle. Nonetheless, Whittaker doesn’t see Chimaev with the ability to do the identical to him.
“He’s undoubtedly bought a very sound jiu-jitsu sport, however he mixes it rather well along with his wrestling,” Whittaker instructed ESPN Australia. “I feel what lots of people aren’t prepared for is the combination of the 2, making it actually MMA-esque.
“Using it up towards the wall, utilizing his energy along with his lengthy arms and tall body to push his sport plan on the fence, to push it to the bottom. While I undoubtedly suppose he’s harmful there, I’ve been grappling my whole life. I’m very, very assured in my very own skillsets. Even when it had been a pure wrestling-jiu-jitsu format, I might maintain my very own if not get a W in that approach too.”
With their battle being a five-round headliner, Whittaker is aware of he has the benefit there. He was capable of outlast Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero twice in championship fights.
“I undoubtedly suppose the aim, very like all of my different opponents, is simply to go on the market and battle my battle,” Whittaker mentioned. “It’s about going on the market and pushing my sport plan onto him and see how he adjusts to me as a result of I carry an arsenal of skillsets that he’s not prepared for, I consider. I feel the surest solution to victory is to go in there, clearly not play to his strengths, which isn’t partaking within the wrestling however not be afraid of it.
“I can wrestle with the most effective of them, and I’ve proven and proved that. I’m going to go in there, and I’m going to battle my battle. I’m going to battle a standup battle. I’m going to see the place it goes. I’m going to tug it out. It’s a five-round battle. I’ve been in loads of these, and I’ve bought no give up in me, so let’s see how this goes.”
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