Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who ranks second in the division, explained why he is not considering Khamzat Chimaev as a potential opponent, who is going to fight in his weight category next.
“Chimaev is not in the division rating,” the Australian said in the next issue of the MMA Hour program. “I’m not a big fan of guys trying to slip through. Ratings don’t just exist, do they? I love fighting top 5 guys because they are the best of the best and deserve it as they work their way through the division to the top.”
“It’s much harder to break through the division than it is to just slip through the top. You advance by defeating all your opponents – this is the system that we have and it must be respected. ”
According to Whittaker, he expects to complete the trilogy with Israel Adesanya, who in the previous fight regained the championship belt by knocking out Alex Pereira.
“I understand that I fought him twice and I want a third fight. He beat Pereira from the fourth time, and I know for sure that I will only need three tries. ”
According to rumors, Khamzat Chimaev plans to fight his next fight on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi against former UFC middleweight title contender Paulo Costa.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/31338-robert-uittaker-isklyuchil-boj-s-khamzatom-chimaevym.html?rand=19907
