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Khamzat Chimaev is entering UFC 308 with a firm belief that his unbeaten streak will remain intact. Facing former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the co-main event in Abu Dhabi, Chimaev is set for the biggest challenge of his career. Despite the difference in experience, Chimaev is convinced that his lack of defeats gives him the mental edge going into the fight.
With 13 professional bouts under his belt—seven in the UFC—Chimaev has yet to experience a loss, and he plans to keep it that way. Whittaker, on the other hand, has been through the highs and lows of title contention. He first claimed UFC gold in 2017 but later lost it to Israel Adesanya. While Whittaker has bounced back from that defeat with six wins in eight fights, Chimaev sees Whittaker’s losses as a key factor in his advantage.
“He knows how to lose, we don’t know,” Chimaev confidently stated during the UFC 308 media day. "I’m ready for victory."
Though Whittaker has established himself as a force in the middleweight division, defeating many top contenders, Chimaev remains unfazed. He believes his grappling and takedown dominance will be the difference-maker in this fight.
“Who has stopped my takedowns? Nobody. I don’t think Whittaker will be different,” said Chimaev. Referring to his past success against elite fighters, he added, “If Kamaru Usman, a great champion, couldn’t stop me, what’s going to be different with a guy like Whittaker?”
Chimaev’s conditioning for the five-round fight has been a major talking point, as Whittaker has more experience going the distance. However, the undefeated contender insists that his training camp adjustments will make up for that gap.
"I don’t think about five rounds. Go to the cage, win the fight, smash that guy, and take my money. That’s it," Chimaev declared.
If Chimaev can secure a victory—whether by decision or by becoming the first to submit Whittaker—it will answer many lingering questions about his readiness for the upper echelon of the middleweight division. For Chimaev, though, the only focus is winning, and how he gets there doesn’t concern him.
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