Robert Whittaker ready to sprint for 25 minutes vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308: ‘I’m the hunter’
October 23, 2024 11:00 am ET
ABU DHABI â Robert Whittaker vows to match Khamzat Chimaevâs pace at UFC 308.
Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) will look to hand Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) his first-career loss in Saturdayâs co-main event at Etihad Arena (pay-per-view, ESPN+). This will mark Chimaevâs first five-round fight, whereas former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker has competed in numerous five rounders. Chimaev doesnât plan on changing his approach, and Whittaker is ready for it.
âI am expecting him to come out hard and aggressive from the first second to the last,â Whittaker told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesdayâs UFC 308 media day. âAnd I have prepared accordingly for that. Iâve prepared for the hardest fight of my life, to start extremely hard, like sprinting for the first 5 to 10 minutes, but also drag it out the five (rounds). Iâm ready to sprint for 25 minutes if so, and Iâm coming for war.â
Chimaev said Whittaker knows how to lose, but he doesnât. While that statement might be true, Whittaker takes that as motivation.
âExperience,â Whittaker answered on what makes him different from Chimaevâs prior opponents. âIâm good at what I do. Iâm a different fighter than heâs fought before, and I guess maybe the fact that I know how to lose, it gives me strength, it gives me a reason why I donât like being there, why I donât want that to be my reality. It sucks, so Iâm going to go out there and give him a taste of it.â
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkieâs event hub for UFC 308.
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