Khamzat Chimaev unintentionally injured Robert Whittaker with a neck crank at UFC 308, potentially altering the title shot landscape, as he expressed regret over the injury while eyeing a future championship opportunity.
Khamzat Chimaev didn’t intend to harm Robert Whittaker, but that’s exactly what unfolded.
During UFC 308 on Saturday night, Chimaev secured his eighth UFC victory. He stopped Whittaker with a neck crank in the first round. This submission was so intense it fractured the former middleweight champ’s jaw and teeth. Chimaev only found out post-fight.
“Before I came here, they showed it to me,” Chimaev mentioned during the post-fight scrum. “I sensed something was off with his chin when I applied pressure.” Feeling bad for the injury, he added, “I didn’t mean to break someone’s chin. But it’s my job—to inflict pain and bring happiness to myself and my family.”
“Breaking his jaw wasn’t my intention,” Chimaev emphasized later. “I just went for a choke and heard a click. I thought I was grabbing his neck, but turns out, I broke the jaw.”
This victory marked Chimaev’s sixth finish in the UFC and earned him a fifth Performance bonus. It could potentially lead to a title shot for “Borz.” Although Sean Strickland seems next for champion Dricus du Plessis, UFC CEO Dana White hinted at a possible shift in the hierarchy. If that’s the case, Chimaev is ready to face du Plessis in South Africa.
“If it’s for the belt, location doesn’t matter,” Chimaev stated. “I’ll head there and claim my gold. It’s up to Dana now. They’ve never been to South Africa; it’d be historic, and I’d love to experience that.”
Winning the title might be the ultimate aim for many fighters, but for Chimaev? Just the start.
“I’ve talked about three belts ages ago,” Chimaev said. “Of course, I want to move up. But what Dana White and the UFC decide—I can’t say. First, I need to secure the belt in my weight class, then I’ll consider other options.”