It is a activity many UFC fighters refuse to even try but when Robert Whittaker can down Khamzat Chimaev he’ll probably earn a shot at regaining the middleweight title in entrance of a hometown crowd in Sydney.
The UFC confirmed on Thursday the promotion will return to the Harbour Metropolis in February with UFC 312 and with present middleweight champion Dricus du Plussis already making noise that he plans to be on the cardboard, a showdown with Whittaker shapes as a fantastic co-main occasion alongside former featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski’s return to the cage.
However earlier than that double invoice of Australian UFC legends can occur, Whittaker should first take down Chimaev, the undefeated Chechen powerhouse who’s the closest factor combined martial arts has to a bogeyman, at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi subsequent weekend.
At 15-0, Chimaev has smashed his option to stardom in recent times. The whole lot about him, from a combating type that may be alternate between smothering and shockingly harmful to his howling work on the microphone post-fight, is designed to intimidate.
His nickname, “Borz”, doubles because the Chechnyan phrase for wolf and the identify of the improvised machine weapons used within the Chechnan-Russian wars of the mid Nineties.
Reliability has been a difficulty – Chimaev has fought simply 4 occasions previously 4 years because of damage and sickness – however merely put, he is the type of fighter different fighters attempt to keep away from, which is strictly why Whittaker needs him within the first place.
“In case you take away all of the noise, he is very harmful. There is a high-calibre wrestling recreation that he is tailored to MMA and he is acquired knockout energy as properly and a chin,” stated Whittaker.
“He can take pictures, he can provide pictures, he is a tough combat for anybody and I like being the underdog, the anomaly, it is a place of energy for me.
“For higher or worse, all laborious issues make me higher and I can solely see this take a look at, dealing with a man who’s 15-0, as an important take a look at to undergo. Think about how good I will be after this combat?”
Whittaker himself has roared again into high type since his shock loss to du Plessis in a title eliminator simply over 12 months in the past.
Robert Whittaker has been in high type in latest months, incomes spectacular back-to-back victories. (Getty Photographs: Zuffa LLC/Chris UnGER)
A hell-for-leather choice over Paulo Costa and a primary spherical knockout of Ikram Aliskerov, who was a late alternative for Chimaev, has put Whittaker firmly again into the body for UFC gold.
Du Plussis’s camp has already indicated he shall be their most well-liked opponent ought to he down Chimaev
“That is my third combat this yr, I have not completed that in a very long time, however I really feel higher than I ever have. I really feel sturdy, I really feel match, I am excited for the take a look at and the trial,” stated Whittaker.
“It is thrilling as a result of I really feel it in my blood, I really feel the warmth, I really feel locked in and harmful, like a hunter.
“That is what I have been perfecting over the past yr. I am going into this combat to be a hunter, to be harmful.”
It has been 5 years since Whittaker fought in Australia, and will he hit the Octagon in February, it is going to be 11 years since his final combat in his hometown.
A lot has occurred since then – Whittaker has gained the middleweight title and misplaced and established himself as among the finest fighters of his era and considered one of Australia’s high MMA exports.
His first little one was born simply months after that final combat, now he has 5 of them. He is a special fighter and a special man.
“My complete goal is to be the perfect fight athlete I can probably be,” stated Whittaker.
“Each combat and each camp pushes me in the direction of that aim, there have been occasions I wasn’t as centered on that goal however I am again now and you may see each combat how I push that envelope.
“I am getting nearer to that final model of myself.”
