UFC Stars Predict The SUPERFIGHT Between Khamzat And Whittaker!

The highly anticipated middleweight fight between former champion Robert Whittaker and undefeated star Khamzat Chimaev will serve as the co-main event of UFC 308.

As it marks the return of Chimaev, it’s one of the most hyped fights in 2024, especially since he was forced to pull out of the pairings meeting in June. The fight will reportedly be five rounds, even though it is not a title fight.

Click “Next” to check out how UFC fighters predict the exciting middleweight matchup!

Dricus du Plessis

Pick: Whittaker 

Reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, who beat Whittaker to get a title shot, thinks that the fact that the former champion’s been active will work in his advantage.

”Rob has been active, Rob has been improving, Rob has been hungry, Rob has been at it. I would put my money on Rob,” du Plessis says.

Ilia Topuria

Pick: Chimaev

Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who headlined UFC 308, thinks it’s not even going to be a close fight in the co-main event.

”Chimaev will crush [Robert Whittaker]. That’s what I think. I love Robert Whittaker but he’ll crush him, for real! Khamzat is a beast,” Topuria says.

Georges St-Pierre

Pick: Whittaker 

UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre believes Whittaker has the style to stop Chimaev.

“Well, if there is a guy that can stop Chimaev, it’s Robert Whittaker,” St-Pierre says. “Because if you look at Chimaev, he has a – we can compare it in a way to Yoel Romero. Romero was a very good wrestler, very explosive and powerful guy, and Whittaker was the kryptonite of Yoel Romero. He was able to beat him twice. So, stylistically he’s very capable of doing the same to Chimaev, to make Chimaev look bad. Robert Whittaker has a very unusual style. He’s from a karate background like I do.”

Anthony Smith

Pick: Whittaker 

Former light heavyweight title challenger is torn between the two top fighters.

”I think Khamzat can beat anybody, across any weight class, I don’t give a shit who it is, anybody in the world he can beat in the first round,” Smith says.

However, if Chimaev paces himself, Smith thinks the Australian will get the win.

”I hate to say it, I’m leaning Whittaker.”

Belal Muhammad

Pick: 50/50

For UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad it all comes down to how long the fight will be.

”If it’s a five-rounder I’m going with Whittaker, if it’s a three rounder I’m going with Khamzat,” Muhammad says.

Jan Blachowicz

Pick: Whittaker 

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz hopes Whittaker gets it done at UFC 308.

”It’s going to be a tough fight for him,” Blachowicz says. ”He’s got everything to win this fight, but Chimaev is also very tough, a good fighter, so it’s going to be tough for him.”

Caio Borralho

Pick: Chimaev

Caio Borralho is certain that his former training partner Chimaev will dominate Whittaker in Abu Dhabi.

“I think Khamzat is going to like dominate him in the wrestling, on the ground,” Borralho told Submission Radio.

“(Khamzat) trains a lot. Like, I haven’t seen any other guy in my life that trains as much as he trains, you know. Maybe that’s why sometimes he, like, kills his body and doesn’t make it to the fight. But definitely, he’s the guy that over-trains everyone in the room.”

Jared Cannonier

Pick: Whittaker 

Former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier predicts Whittaker will have the advantage in Abu Dhabi.

“This is a very interesting match-up, I believe that Whittaker gets it at the long distance for sure,” Cannonier says. ”Unless Chimaev gets so much of the momentum that Whittaker can’t recover, which I find that hard to make that happen against a guy like Whittaker who’s been in there with all of us, so I want to give the edge to Whittaker.”

Stephen Thompson

Pick: Whittaker 

Striking sensation Stephen Thompson thinks the combination of great takedown defense and striking will be tough for Chimaev.

”I think it’s a tough fight for Khamzat Chimaev,” Thompson says. ”I’m leaning towards my man Whittaker.”

Jorge Masvidal

Pick: Whittaker 

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal got Whittaker as the winner in Abu Dhabi.

”Rob all day bye man Vs boy beat down,” Masvidal says on social media.

Cory Sandhagen

Pick: Whittaker 

Top ranked bantamweight Cory Sandhagen thinks the former champion will get his hand raised in Abu Dhabi.

”I got Whittaker winning that one,” Sandhagen says.

Curtis Blaydes

Pick: Whittaker 

Top ranked heavyweight Curtis ”Razor” Blaydes picks the former champion as the winner by stoppage.

”I think he will be able to find the stoppage in the second round. I think Khamzat, after the first round he slows down drastically,” Blaydes says.

Tim Welch

Pick: Whittaker 

Tim Welch, the coach of former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, thinks that the five rounds changes everything.

”Khamzat is used to just sprinting out people, overpowering them, body locking them, using a ton of energy. But I’m really curious how he will come out in five rounds,” Welch says. ”If he comes out reckless he’s either going to finish him in the first or second, or he’s going to gas out and probably be TKO’d. If I have to put money on it I think Robert Whittaker wins.”

Grant Dawson

Pick: Whittaker 

Just like many others, UFC lightweight Grant Dawson thinks the amount of rounds will play a big factor in the fight. He doesn’t think Chimaev can keep up with Whittakers pace.

”If this was a three rounder, you could convince me that Khamzat was going to win this fight. Win two (rounds), lose one,” Dawson says. ”I think he’s going to be up one big, and then lose two, three, four and five. Maybe he’s got the gas tank to win two.”

Eryk Anders

Pick: Whittaker 

Eryk Anders got ”Bobby Knuckles”, even though he’s a bit worried about the former champion’s ability to take punches after getting knocked out by Dricus du Plessis.

”I like Whittaker’s chances past round one ,” Anders says. ”I think Whittaker will be able to whiter the storm and he’s got that blitzing style, so I’m going with Whittaker.”

Dan Ige

Pick: Chimaev

Featherweight fighter Dan Ige, who’s also a part of the UFC 308 fight card, has a hard time picking a winner in the middleweight contest.

”Man, I’m going to go with Khamzat Chimaev,” Ige says.

Matt Frevola

Pick: Whittaker 

Lightweight fighter Matt Frevola got the former champion as the favorite in the matchup.

”It depends on how committed Khamzat is. I feel like he’s been one foot in the door one foot out, recently. With his health and what not,” Frevola says. ”Yeah, I think (Whittaker) gets it done.”

Niko Price

Pick: Whittaker 

MMA veteran Niko Price thinks the former champion will get the win on October 26.

”He’s an all-around good dude. Good striking, good grappling, great person. So I’m going with Whittaker,” Price says.

This is Robert Whittaker

• Age: 33
• Record: 26-7
• UFC record: 17-5
• Weight: 186 lbs (84 kg)
• Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
• Reach: 73+1⁄2 in (187 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 9

This is Khamzat Chimaev

• Age: 30
• Record: 13-0
• UFC record: 7-0
• Weight: 186 lbs (84 kg)
• Height: 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
• Reach: 75 in (190 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 5

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