The UFC returns to the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh for a highly anticipated night of fights on June 22, headlined by a clash between former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker and undefeated top contender Khamzat Chimaev.
This matchup pits the established former champion against the rising star, creating a compelling narrative for fight fans worldwide. The bout is scheduled for five rounds, and the stakes are high as it feels like a title eliminator.
Let's delve into a detailed preview of this exciting contest.
Fighters' Backgrounds
Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker, with a record of 25-7 (9 KOs, 5 Submissions), has been a mainstay in the middleweight division for years. His only losses over the last decade have come against Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, solidifying his position as a top-3 fighter in the weight class.
Despite seeming to be around for so much longer, at 33, he’s only three years older than Chimaev. Going all the way back to 2014, the only men able to beat Whittaker are Israel Adesanya and Dricus DuPlessis, both champions. We see Whittaker even at this somewhat-advanced stage of his career still quelling some pretty compelling middleweight talent. Starting in 2020, after he lost his belt, he has topped Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, Kelvin Gastelum, Marvin Vettori, and Paolo Costa. That doesn’t really suggest a fighter in decline.
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Whittaker's high-level skills and experience against top-tier opponents make him a formidable challenge for anyone in the division. Whittaker continues to demonstrate high-level skills against strong opponents and remains hungry for another title shot.
Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated sensation with a 13-0 record in MMA, has quickly risen to prominence with his dominant performances. Five of his seven UFC wins have come inside the distance, showcasing his finishing abilities.
Chimaev sometimes seems like an unstoppable force. He started off as a terror, but between the inactivity and two decision wins over Burns and Usman, his popularity has leveled off. Since 2021, he has fought three times, with two of them decisions and the dominance hasn’t been in such plain view as before. His body also couldn’t make 170, as he appears now relegated to being a middleweight, where his list of accomplishments is pretty thin alongside a guy in Whittaker who has battled every top 185-pounder of the last decade. The question becomes how much do you hold of this against Chimaev?
Chimaev is undoubtedly a phenomenal talent, and the hype surrounding him has many believing he's a savage striker, a suffocating wrestler, and a pure finisher.
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Keys to Victory
For Chimaev:
- Early Finish: Chimaev needs to capitalize on his explosive start and seek an early finish. If he doesn’t finish him there, I don’t think he wins.
- Wrestling and Submissions: Utilize his wrestling skills to get Whittaker to the ground and hunt for submissions, particularly the d’arce choke.
- Aggressive Striking: Pressure Whittaker to the fence and attack in combination, capitalizing on vulnerable moments after wrestling exchanges.
For Whittaker:
- Takedown Defense: Whittaker has to be on his A game for the first two rounds. He has to be mobile and fast, feinting actively and braced for impact.
- Avoid Early Damage: Weather Chimaev's initial storm, avoid getting submitted, and protect his neck during scrambles.
- Technical Kickboxing: Whittaker can go about imposing his technical kickboxing advantage. Use footwork and striking to control the distance and exploit Chimaev's cardio.
Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds for the fight, according to DraftKings Sportsbook:
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- Khamzat Chimaev victory: -200
- Khamzat Chimaev via TKO/KO/DQ: +165
- Khamzat Chimaev via submission: +240
- Khamzat Chimaev via decision: +600
- Robert Whittaker victory: +245
- Robert Whittaker via TKO/KO/DQ: +380
- Robert Whittaker via submission: +2500
- Robert Whittaker via decision: +650
These odds indicate that Chimaev is the favorite, but Whittaker's experience and skill make him a live underdog.
Expert Analysis and Prediction
Robert Whittaker is a seriously difficult style match up for “Borz,” who has yet to prove himself elite at 185-pounds. However, the longer the fight goes, and the more Whittaker’s craftiness comes into play, the smaller Chimaev's window of opportunity becomes.
If Whittaker's takedown defense holds up early, he should be able to drag the fight into the later rounds, where Chimaev will find himself in uncharted waters.
Prediction: Whittaker via decision.
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