Khamzat Chimaev is ready for "war" against Robert Whittaker at UFC 308: "I don't care about this guy"
Khamzat Chimaev claimed he 'doesn't care' about Robert Whittaker ahead of their "war" at UFC 308.
On Saturday, October 26, the UFC 308, goes down inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main event features Ilia Topuria defending his featherweight title against Max Holloway, while the co-main event has also generated interest from MMA fans worldwide.
Chimaev has fought and won seven times under the UFC banner, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the promotion. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old has been inactive lately, only fighting twice last year.
At UFC 308, 'Borz' returns to face former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. During the event's countdown video, the undefeated 185-pound contender had this to say about his upcoming opponent:
"Robert [Whittaker] has been the champion and one of the best guys in the top, but I don't care about this guy. In the war, doesn't matter, you die. [45:25-45:50]
Khamzat Chimaev's last fight was a majority decision win against former UFC champion Kamaru Usman in October 2023, extending his record for the promotion to 7-0. Meanwhile, Robert Whittaker is coming off wins against Paulo Costa (unanimous decision) and Ikram Aliskerov (first-round knockout) to bounce back from a loss against Dricus du Plessis.
Watch Chimaev's comments about Whittaker starting at 45:25 below:
What's at stake between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker?
Robert Whittaker has a big say in the middleweight title picture, especially considering Israel Adesanya isn't the champion. Whittaker only lost once against Dricus du Plessis compared to succumbing twice against Adesanya, making the rematch against the reigning middleweight king more intriguing.
Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev was initially seen as a number-one contender fight. With that said, Dana White recently claimed Du Plessis' next title defense will be a rematch against Sean Strickland on an unannounced date, making the UFC 308 co-main event stakes less clear.
At UFC 308, Whittaker or Chimaev could still secure a title shot with an impressive performance. The only problem is the winner might have to endure an extended layoff or fight again, depending on when Du Plessis vs. Strickland is scheduled.