Joe Rogan Praises Chimaev's Challenge Against Whittaker

Longtime UFC color commentator Joe Rogan is enthusiastic about Khamzat Chimaev's upcoming challenge in the middleweight division, describing it as a "real" test for the rising fighter.

Chimaev initially made his mark in the welterweight division but faced weight-related issues in 2022, prompting his return to middleweight last October at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. His scheduled bout against Paulo Costa was replaced by a short-notice fight against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, whom Chimaev defeated to enter the middleweight rankings.

The Chechen-born fighter's next test is set for June 22 in Saudi Arabia, where he will face former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a highly anticipated showdown.

  "This one, Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev in Saudi Arabia. That one is gonna be f*ckin' wild. That's a wild one. That is a wild fight," Rogan said. "Whittaker vs. Khamzat is legit. That's a real fight. That's a real fight for Khamzat, because's Whittaker's a big dude, he's a big, beefy (middleweight), former champion.

That's a real 185er, as opposed to — they gave him Kamaru Usman and Kamaru didn't have a chance to prepare for that. "This is a big one. This is Robert Whittaker with plenty of time to prepare, a guy who is just as legit as they get, just beat Paulo Costa," Rogan added.

Chimaev's clash with Whittaker is expected to be a highlight of the UFC's debut event in Saudi Arabia, with both fighters eager to prove themselves in the competitive middleweight division.