Robert Whittaker “goes to war” with Khamzat Chimaev

ABU DHABI – Robert Whittaker promises to match Khamzat Chimaev’s pace at UFC 308.

Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) will look to hand Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) his first career loss in Saturday’s co-main event at Etihad Arena (pay-per-view , ESPN+). This will be Chimaev’s first five-round fight, while former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker has taken part in numerous five-round fights. Chimaev has no plans to change his approach and Whittaker is willing to do so.

“I expect him to be tough and aggressive from the first second to the last,” Whittaker told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 308 media day on Wednesday. “And I prepared accordingly for that. I prepared for the toughest fight of my life, starting extremely hard, sprinting for the first five to 10 minutes, but also dragging it out past the five (rounds). If so, I’m willing to sprint for 25 minutes and I’ll go to war.”

Chimaev said Whittaker knows how to lose, but he doesn’t. While this statement may be true, Whittaker sees it as motivation.

“Experience,” Whittaker replied when asked what sets him apart from Chimaev’s previous opponents. “I am good at what I do. I’m a different fighter than he’s fought before and I think the fact that I know how to lose maybe gives me strength, it gives me a reason why I don’t like being there, why I don’t want to be around to be my reality. It sucks, so I’m going to go out and give him a taste.”

For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC 308 event hub.