A UFC veteran has issued a warning to rising star Khamzat Chimaev about the dangers of facing Robert Whittaker ahead of their potential fight in Saudi Arabia.
The veteran, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared his own experience of facing Whittaker in the Octagon and warned Chimaev that he should not underestimate the former middleweight champion.
“I was nothing when I faced Whittaker,” the veteran said. “I thought I had it all figured out, but he showed me that I still had a lot to learn. He’s a dangerous opponent and I don’t want to see Chimaev make the same mistake I did.”
Whittaker, who is currently ranked number one in the middleweight division, has been on a dominant run since losing his title to Israel Adesanya in 2019. He has defeated top contenders such as Darren Till and Jared Cannonier, solidifying his position as one of the best in the division.
Chimaev, on the other hand, has quickly risen through the ranks with his impressive performances in the UFC. He has a perfect record of 9-0 and has finished all but one of his opponents in the first round. His most recent win over Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds has caught the attention of many in the MMA world.
However, the veteran believes that Chimaev’s lack of experience could be his downfall against a seasoned fighter like Whittaker.
“Chimaev is a great fighter, there’s no doubt about that. But he hasn’t faced anyone like Whittaker yet. He’s still relatively new to the UFC and hasn’t been tested in a five-round fight. Whittaker has been in the game for a long time and knows how to handle the pressure of a main event fight,” the veteran explained.
The potential fight between Chimaev and Whittaker has been rumored for a while now, with both fighters expressing interest in facing each other. However, nothing has been officially announced by the UFC yet.
If the fight does happen, the veteran believes that Chimaev will have to be at his absolute best to defeat Whittaker.
“Chimaev has to be careful not to underestimate Whittaker. He’s a dangerous striker with great takedown defense. Chimaev’s grappling is his biggest strength, but Whittaker has shown that he can handle himself on the ground as well. It’s going to be a tough fight for Chimaev, but if he can pull off the win, it will definitely be a huge statement for his career,” the veteran concluded.
Only time will tell if Chimaev will heed the veteran’s warning and prepare accordingly for a potential fight against Whittaker. But one thing is for sure, if the fight does happen, it will be an exciting matchup between two of the best middleweights in the UFC.
