Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker set for UFC Saudi Arabia main event

[MEDITATE]

https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/2...arabia-june-22

Alexander Volkov to fight a different opponent in Saudi Arabia as UFC 302 matchup reportedly gets switched

[chalup]

Man i will be rooting HARD for Whittaker here

[mryamamoto]

Whittaker is a real bad matchup for Khamzat.

Will be a great fight.

[Schnitzl]

Going against the grain here as usual and saying Whittaker will get finished in one round. Not convinced after Paulo fight and still think he's getting to the end of his long and amazing career especially after that DDP loss.

What a wild card though, KG is back, Sharabutdin, Walker vs Volkan etc. Gonna be on ABC so don't look at it as just a fight night.

[sooby]

Despite Khamzat's performance vs Usman. I think Khamzat will take this. I think he can get Whittaker to the ground. On the feet Whittaker does get hit as well although he is the better striker. Either Khamzat via GNP or Whittaker by decision.

[Gainzzz]

Khamzat is destined to fail at the highest level imo. His style is only effective when he's going all out but that only lasts for one round. After that, he becomes a shell of himself. I don't think it's something he can control either. He can probably train for hours in the gym, but as soon as he steps in the cage, every system in his body is going max speed and he just burns out.

It's not impossible that he subs Whittaker in round 1 but I think it's very unlikely. After that, he is going to shrink round by round. He will drown in the later rounds.

He has never fought a real MW either.

Whittaker/Pavlovich looking like a j00cy double.

[2011change]

Praise to Allah. Khamzat will win

[TrueTruth]

5 rounds this time, if Whittaker survives first round then Chimaev is fuked. The guy could barely stand against Burns and Usman in round 3 because he was so gassed out, and I doubt he'll change his yolo strategy this time because that's the only thing he knows how to do.

[q0c0p]

Rob is past his prime but still game. If he survives the 1st he has a great chance to win. Khamzat doesnt know how to pace himself and has low fight iq

[CanuckGame]

If khamzat could improve his gas tank he could be unstoppable. But hes a 1 rought fighter at the moment. After round 1 he is extremely beatable.

[mryamamoto]

If khamzat could improve his gas tank he could be unstoppable. But hes a 1 rought fighter at the moment. After round 1 he is extremely beatable.

True but I guess having epic gas tank is mostly genetic because all his teammates claim he is the hardest worker in the gym, always training cardio, wrestling etc.

[sooby]

If khamzat could improve his gas tank he could be unstoppable. But hes a 1 rought fighter at the moment. After round 1 he is extremely beatable.

I think Khamzat's gas tank is fine, I think he just comes way too hot out the gate and can't pace himself. He just doesn't fight that way.


Whittaker has been a bit "chinny" so I think Khamzat can easily catch him with a good shot. Probably is if Khamzat paces himself too much he plays into Whittaker's game which is kind of a point-fighting karate style with some blitzing mixed in. I think Whittaker gets caught if he tries to blitz.

[Schnitzl]

5 rounds this time, if Whittaker survives first round then Chimaev is fuked. The guy could barely stand against Burns and Usman in round 3 because he was so gassed out, and I doubt he'll change his yolo strategy this time because that's the only thing he knows how to do.

I don't know, I feel like every single person is underestimating how great of a fighter Gilbert Burns is. Saying "could barely stand against Burns" makes it sound like Burns is a bum who had no place fighting with Khamzat and still managed to win rd 3.

We know Usman is god tier despite his initial snoozeman fights but Burns is never afraid to bang + is a 3x world champion in BJJ. To win against Burns is no easy feat let alone Kamaru.

[Gainzzz]

I think Khamzat's gas tank is fine, I think he just comes way too hot out the gate and can't pace himself. He just doesn't fight that way.

Whittaker has been a bit "chinny" so I think Khamzat can easily catch him with a good shot. Probably is if Khamzat paces himself too much he plays into Whittaker's game which is kind of a point-fighting karate style with some blitzing mixed in. I think Whittaker gets caught if he tries to blitz.

I can't see Khamzat hitting him with a bigger shot than that or the follow up left hook.

I think the Dricus fight made everyone (me included) think he was completely washed. It now seems like Dricus was just better than everyone thought and Whittaker had an off night.

This fight is gonna be sick tho. Anything can happen in that first round. The smart play will probably be to live bet Whittaker if he survives the first and Khamzat is doing his usual 100% all out attack thing.