Robert Whittaker believes Doricus du Plessis will beat Sean Strickland in their rematch in Tokyo
#UFC312
He also supports Khamzat Chimaev in his fight against both.
“It’s really crazy to stop that first takedown… How do you stop it?”
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— Championship Round (@ChampRDS)
December 9, 2024
Robert Whittaker thinks no one can stop Khamzat Chimaev’s takedown.
Chimaev submitted “Bobby Knuckles” in the first round of the co-main event of UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in October of this year. The matchup was expected to be a title fight, but as promised by UFC CEO Dana White, former champion Sean Strickland earned his next title shot against Drikas du Plessis. .
Strickland lost the title to Du Plessis in a controversial split decision at UFC 297 in Canada in January. “Tarzan” bounced back with a split decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June and has been eagerly awaiting a rematch with the champion ever since. Meanwhile, “Stillnox” defended his title with a submission victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August. The South African fighter is set to have a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312 on February 8th at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Whittaker believes the outcome of the rematch between du Plessis and Strickland will be no different than the first meeting.
“I don’t think the fight has changed,” Whittaker said on the MMA Arcade podcast. “du Plessis” [is] There’s a dog like this. He’s going to come in with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What can Sean do to change the outcome? ”
Meanwhile, Chimaev has already had a spat with Strickland and is scheduled to appear at UFC 312 in Sydney. Whittaker believes Chimaev, the next most likely candidate, will beat out both Strickland and du Plessis. Coach Whittaker isn’t sure if the ‘Boltz’ will be able to defeat them in overwhelming fashion, but the Chechen-born Swede could decide them in the same way as Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. I am sure. He has only won twice in his career.
“I think he’s just beating them and doing the same thing. It’s not necessarily against me, but how he beat Usman,” Whittaker said. “Or how he won. [Gilbert] Burns…I think he would be more successful with Strickland than with du Plessis. Du Plessis looks like a big guy…but at the end of the day, stopping the first takedown is really crazy. The way he hits his first shot is crazy. How can I stop that guy? Jump over him? ”
