Bout Set For 5 Rounds

Robert Whittaker is setting the report straight relating to his rescheduled scrap with Khamzat Chimaev.

Initially, the 2 have been anticipated to headline UFC Saudi Arabia in June earlier than ‘Borz’ was pressured to bow out due to an undisclosed illness. As an alternative, Whittaker went on to attain a first-round knockout in opposition to substitute opponent Ikram Aliskerov on the occasion. Now, the 2 are slated to fulfill on October 26 when the promotion heads again to Abu Dhabi for UFC 308.

The bout was set to co-main occasion the cardboard as a five-round middleweight title eliminator, however a current put up on the UFC’s X account appeared to counsel that the combat had been demoted to a few rounds.

With rumors starting to swirl that the combat may as soon as once more be in jeopardy, ‘The Reaper’ tried to quell issues on Instagram. Responding to a fan inquiry relating to whether or not or not the combat can be three or 5 rounds, Whittaker confirmed that the competition remains to be on for the latter.

Robert Whittaker believes a win over ‘borz’ will set up him as the perfect middleweight on this planet

With combat night time six weeks away, the previous UFC champion is leaving no stone unturned as he prepares to show to the world that he’s the perfect middleweight fighter on this planet.

“You possibly can guess your backside greenback that I’m coaching like an animal proper now on the mats,” Whittaker stated on his MMArcade Podcast. “I’m sweating and bleeding and leaving all of it there in preparation for this combat, and I’m coming into this combat to go away all of it there.

“I don’t anticipate him to get drained or anything. I anticipate him to return out aggressive and to be tremendous scary within the wrestling and be very sturdy. I simply suppose I’ve been in these waters earlier than. I understand how to tread. I’m good in there. I’m the perfect middleweight on this planet. Beating him will show that, and I look ahead to it.”

Since 2014, Robert Whittaker has solely misplaced to 2 males contained in the Octagon — two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya and present 185-pound champ Dricus Du Plessis. He has gained three of his final 4, together with victories in opposition to Marvin Vettori, Paulo Costa, and the aforementioned Ikram Aliskerov.

As for Chimaev, UFC 308 would be the Chechen’s first combat since his majority decisive win over Kamaru Usman a 12 months in the past. ‘Borz’ is an ideal 13-0 in his combined martial arts profession, however his appearances contained in the Octagon have been few and much between with him averaging roughly one combat per 12 months.

With six cancelled bouts since 2020, Chimaev averages extra withdrawals than he does precise fights. Consequently, on-line sportsbook BegOnline.ag is permitting bettors to put a wager on climate or not Chimaev will bow out of UFC 308. The road opened at -140, that means a $100 guess would web you $140 ought to ‘Borz’ not make it to Etihad Enviornment.