Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Preview, Where to Watch and Betting Odds

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker of Australia finally clashes with unbeaten Russian Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 308 this weekend. The pair were initially scheduled to fight at UFC Saudi Arabia last June, but Khamzat Chimaev fell “violently” ill. Whittaker is having a sensational year, having won twice in 2024. However, the Aussie is still the underdog against Khamzat Chimaev, who beat Kamaru Usman one year ago.

MMA: UFC Middleweight

Where to Watch: PPV

Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

Date: 26.10.2024 22:30

“The Reaper” is 2-0 this year, having taken on and finished Ikram Aliskerov when Khamzat Chimaev could not fight last June to add to the decision over Paulo Costa in February. Robert Whittaker lost to Dricus du Plessis in July last year in the UFC middleweight title eliminator. A powerful striker who dabbles in freestyle wrestling, Whittaker became Australia’s first UFC champion in 2017. Although he later lost the title to Isreal Adesanya, Robert Whittaker has been a feature in the top echelons of the 185-pound class and has fought many of the division’s best. Ranked at number three in the division, the 33-year-old has been active in the UFC for over a decade.

• Age: 33
• Height: 6’0”
• Reach: 73.5”
• Weight: 185lbs (84kg)
• Record: 26-7

The highly talented Khamzat Chimaev is unbeaten professionally, winning seven consecutive fights in the UFC. Seen by many as a future UFC champion, Chimaev has been blighted by periods of inactivity. The Chechnya-born fighter, a former Swedish freestyle national champion, has finished all but one of his opponents in the UFC. In 2022, “Borz” missed weight for his welterweight main event clash with Nate Diaz. He was matched with Kevin Holland in the co-main event at 180 pounds catchweight. Chimaev returned to middleweight against Kamaru Usman last year, securing the first decision victory in his UFC career to the chagrin of some pundits who expected Chimaev to finish the former welterweight champion. Chimaev won the fight by majority decision.

We were in training camp. The first month was very good. In the last three weeks, my immunity has gone down. I don’t know what happened. All the guys ate the same food, (but) only (I) got sick. I was in the hospital for a couple of days. I came out and started to train again, and the same sh*t happened again. The doctor told me, ‘You need to just be off the gym and not just training, not doing anything.’ I went home to the mountains.

Khamzat Chimaev

• Age: 30
• Height: 6’2”
• Reach: 75”
• Weight: 185lbs (84kg)
• Record: 13-0

Robert Whittaker is a 2.847 underdog on 1XBET, which prices Yes to the start of round three at 1.65. Bet365 prices the underdog at 2.87 to win. Betway lists over 2.5 at 1.77 odds. Read more here.