Robert Whittaker picks Khamzat to run over Strickland at UFC 328

Robert Whittaker expects Khamzat Chimaev to demolish Sean Strickland when the two middleweights collide Saturday night at UFC 328 in Newark.

Whittaker, who suffered a cracked jaw and broken teeth in a submission loss to Chimaev at UFC 308 last October, told Paramount that the unbeaten champion will close distance and drag Strickland into deep water. “All the things he’s talking, he talks a big game,” Whittaker said of Strickland, per MMA Mania. “He almost convinces me that he can do it. But having been in there with Chimaev, having seen what Chimaev can do, once he gets his hands on him — and he will. Because he shoots from so far away and he commits wholeheartedly and he will get you to the mat.”

Why Whittaker sees Chimaev overwhelming Strickland

The former titleholder pointed to Chimaev’s relentless pace and mat control. “Seeing that he has the cardio to be able to do that for five rounds as well, mate … gun to my head, Chimaev is gonna run him over,” Whittaker said. Chimaev enters 15-0 with 12 finishes and is the betting favourite over Strickland, who has already knocked out one opponent nicknamed Khamzat earlier in his career.

The UFC 328 main card airs live on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET from Prudential Center. The event also features flyweight champion Joshua Van defending against Tatsuro Taira and a welterweight clash between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley. According to MMA Mania, there is concern that Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in faceoff may be scrapped due to bad blood between the headliners.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Ex-champ who got his teeth ripped out by Khamzat predicts UFC 328 | MMA Mania
• mmamania.com — UFC 328 card, start time, date and location | Khamzat vs. Strickland | MMA Mania