What's Next For Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker?

What's Next For Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker?

ROUNDHOUSE MMA|
October 29, 2024|
6

Did Khamzat Chimaev just steal a title shot away from Sean Strickland? That seems to be the overall theme amongst MMA fans following Chimaev's domination of Robert Whittaker on Saturday which took him just three minutes and 34 seconds.

To get you up to speed, Sean Strickland defeated Paulo Costa back in June, and Dricus Du Plessis submitted Israel Adesanya in August. The two seemed on a collision course to meet again. Instead of taking on another contender, Strickland opted to wait for a title shot, which now may not look like the best idea. Recency bias is key in mixed martial arts, and Khamzat Chimaev may have just earned himself a crack at Dricus Du Plessis.

So, what is next for Chimaev and Whittaker? Let's talk about it here.

As I said previously, recency bias is crucial in mixed martial arts. Consider Dricus Du Plessis-Sean Strickland II cancelled. Khamzat Chimaev's win over Robert Whittaker was dominant and terrifying and gave the UFC and its fans enough ammunition to promote and build a fight between Du Plessis and Chimaev. Now 14-0, Chimaev is the boogeyman this Middleweight division needs, and if he can defeat Du Plessis and win the title, the UFC will have a megastar on their hands.

In terms of Robert Whittaker, he suffered a major injury to his jaw during the fight. Hopefully, this doesn't keep him out of action too long, but when he can return, I'd like to see him booked against Sean Strickland. With the title shot going to Chimaev, Strickland will have paid the price for attempting to wait for a rematch with Du Plessis. Both men can quickly get back into the title picture with a win.

Think Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker should fight someone else? Let us know in the comments.

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