Robert Whittaker: Khamzat Chimaev must tempo himself
Throughout a latest interview with Primary Occasion, Whittaker warned Chimaev forward of UFC Saudi Arabia.
“I’m prepared for the wrestling exchanges, I’m prepared for the scrambling,” Whittaker stated of Chimaev. “It’s a 5-round combat, so I’m positive his pacing’s gotta be somewhat totally different. In any other case, it’s gonna be an early combat for him…
“I’ve seen him in particular person, he’s taller than me. I’ve all the time thought he’s a middleweight who struggles to get to welterweight, not the opposite means round. You’ve seen him time and time once more, wrestling and grappling these huge robust dudes. So he’s gonna are available robust, so I’m not frightened about [his size] an excessive amount of.”
Most of Whittaker’s latest fights have been scheduled for five-round affairs. However, his final three UFC bookings have been three-rounders, together with his latest win over Paulo Costa at UFC 298.
Chimaev has been booked for one five-round combat throughout his UFC tenure, in opposition to Nate Diaz at UFC 279. However, after lacking weight forward of the occasion, he was booked for a five-rounder in opposition to Kevin Holland, profitable by first-round submission.
Whittaker vs. Chimaev is among the greatest fights of the 12 months, significantly for the UFC middleweight division. The previous middleweight titleholder plans to take Chimaev into deep waters contained in the Octagon.