A UFC star has picked a ranked middleweight contender who he believes can dethrone Khamzat Chimaev if given the opportunity.
‘The Wolf’ has just won the UFC middleweight title following an incredibly dominant display against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago in August.
While Du Plessis’s coach called the win ‘boring’, the Chechen was able to secure his first belt in the organisation with over 20 minutes of control time inside the Octagon.
Chimaev wants to make his first defence quickly, with the 31-year-old claiming he wanted to fight on the Abu Dhabi card in October, but it may be unlikely.
UFC star chooses the one middleweight who can ‘threaten’ Khamzat Chimaev following UFC 319 title win
Although he may find out his first contenders within the next two months as UFC returns to Paris on 6 September for the Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho contest, and a middleweight firecracker in Canada.
The latter fight involves one fighter who UFC star Robert Whittaker – who was once submitted by Khamzat – believes has all the potential to provide ‘Borz’ his biggest threat in the cage.
Speaking to Submission Radio, Whittaker picked out his most recent defeat, Reinier de Ridder, as the man to pull off the upset.
He said: “I think you need to give Khamzat a threat off your back like Gilbert Burns did for Khamzat.
“That’ll give you the space you need to make it a standup fight or to make it an uglier fight somewhere that doesn’t let him play into his strengths.”
‘The Dutch King’ scored a razor-close decision win over ‘The Reaper’ and, with that victory, finds himself facing fellow highly ranked contender Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez in a tough fight.
He has had three wins so far in 2025, and de Ridder will be expecting a fourth against the dangerous striker Hernandez.
Australia’s own Whittaker is 3-3 in his last six fights, but he is not letting the defeats stop him from continuing his career, with a rematch against Khamzat’s latest opponent in mind.
“I’ll fight anyone. I do want to fight Dricus just because I want to make a better account of myself,” he said.
“I’m going to get ready, and then I’ll fight anyone in the top 10. That’s where I am at.”
UFC star Robert Whittaker responds to a potential move to light heavyweight following his defeat
This time next year, fans could see the Aussie in a different weight division if his answer to a move up in weight is anything to go by.
During the interview, a fan asked whether he would be willing to move up to light heavyweight, 205 lbs, from his natural weight class of 185.
Whittaker said: “I’ve been thinking about it lately. Hard to say. I feel everyone says I’m a small middleweight, but it takes a lot out of me, regardless if I’m a small middleweight.
“I feel better being heavier, but I got short arms and I’m not super tall, and I don’t like fighting tall guys, and there are lots of tall guys in the light heavyweight division.
“Let’s wait and see.”
The 34-year-old may not be in the sport for much longer, with his desire to put down the gloves at 36 still in his mind.