Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling will be too much for UFC 312 headliners Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland to handle.
Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will rematch Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) in the main event at UFC 312 on February 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who dominated Whittaker in a first-round submission at UFC 308 in October, is expected to face the winner of that bout.
Whittaker, who Chimaev submitted with a devastating face crank, is confident that neither Du Plessis nor Strickland can stop the explosive takedown game of the undefeated Chechen fighter.
“I think he just takes them down and does the same thing, like not necessarily to me, but how he beat (Kamaru) Usman or how he beat Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker said on the “MMArcade Podcast.” “I can see those sorts of fights unfolding.”
While acknowledging Du Plessis’ size and strength, Whittaker believes that Chimaev’s ability to execute his first takedown will be a significant factor in his success.
“I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis just because Du Plessis is like a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?” Whittaker said.
In the first meeting between Du Plessis and Strickland at UFC 297, Du Plessis edged out Strickland by a split decision. Despite the close nature of the fight, Whittaker doesn’t believe Strickland can make the necessary adjustments to win the rematch.
“In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different,” Whittaker added. “Du Plessis is such a dog in there. He’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome from last time?”
Whittaker’s assessment of Chimaev’s grappling dominance only adds to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming UFC 312 event and the potential clash between Chimaev and the winner of Du Plessis vs. Strickland.
Leave a Reply