Robert Whittaker believes Khamzat Chimaev deserves a title shot over Sean Strickland in the UFC middleweight championship rematch against Dricus du Plessis, given Chimaev’s undefeated record and recent performances, though he acknowledges that both Strickland and Chimaev are willing to fight anyone.
Robert Whittaker knows he doesn’t get to call the shots in the UFC’s middleweight division matchmaking. But, if he had his way, things might look a bit different.
Last Saturday, during UFC 310, the UFC announced that Dricus du Plessis will defend his title against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February. This decision left fans scratching their heads. Many expected Khamzat Chimaev to get a shot after his stunning first-round submission of Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.
Whittaker was asked if Chimaev deserved the nod over Strickland. "Definitely," he said on his MMArcade Podcast. "Khamzat was in the mix when he beat Usman. Then he took some time off, came back, and beat me. So yeah, he’s always been in the title conversation. He’s undefeated."
"It’s tough to argue against him getting a shot now—especially if you’re handing Sean Strickland a title fight like that," Whittaker added.
In their initial bout at UFC 297 in January, du Plessis narrowly edged out Strickland with a split decision to claim the middleweight crown. Since then, du Plessis stopped Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August.
Whittaker’s co-host noted Chimaev’s success across multiple weight classes and his willingness to fight anyone, anytime. "The Reaper" agreed but emphasized that respect should go both ways. He’ll be watching as Strickland aims to become a two-time champ.
"To be fair, Sean’s that kind of fighter too," Whittaker explained. "He’ll fight anyone… Sean’s faced plenty of guys at different weights, so there’s no argument there."
"And that fight [with du Plessis] was razor-thin. Honestly, who cares? I’m out of the picture; it doesn’t matter anymore."
As it stands, the UFC hasn’t disclosed any plans for Chimaev. The burning question is whether he’ll wait for the du Plessis vs. Strickland rematch winner or take another fight to stay active.
If it’s the latter option, Whittaker has an intriguing idea. "I think Chimaev’s right there for a title shot," Whittaker mused. "Or maybe put him against Adesanya. That’ll earn him a title shot [if he wins]. Why not?"