“He always gasses,” Michael Bisping WARNS Khamzat Chimaev as Chechen takes on Robert Whittaker in five-round fight

As is always said, styles make fights. And what better fight than Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev? However, there are several downsides to each fighting style as well.  Michael Bisping recently issued a warning to Khamzat Chimaev ahead of his upcoming five-round fight against Whittaker. 

Bisping believed Chimaev’s tendency to “gas out” could spell disaster against an experienced opponent like Whittaker. His extreme pressure style is overwhelming but also extremely tiring. Bisping warned him against the potential downsides of this style against a former champion.

One thing Robert Whittaker’s not going to do is run out of gas. He's very experienced in fighting at the highest level. The obvious thing is that Khamzat always gasses…If he can't finish Whittaker early, that could be a disastrous night for him.

Michael Bisping via Believe You Me podcast

Bisping also pointed out that Khamzat Chimaev showed signs of fading late in fights. He referenced Chimaev’s bout against Gilbert Burns as an example. While Chimaev dominated the first round, Burns made adjustments and had more success in the later rounds. Bisping was even more critical of Chimaev’s performance against Kamaru Usman. Although ‘Borz’ controlled large portions of the fight, Usman’s experience allowed him to rally late.

For Chimaev’s team, managing energy expenditure over five rounds will be critical. Otherwise, Bisping predicts Whittaker could make Borz pay later in the fight. The fight will be the headliner for the Saudi Arabia card in June.

Joe Rogan comments on Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker

Joe Rogan is the UFC’s longtime commentator. He believed Chimaev would face his toughest middleweight test against ‘The Reaper’. The two are set to clash in a potential title eliminator bout. Rogan expressed excitement about the matchup’s intrigue on his podcast. He saw Whittaker as Chimaev’s first real challenge at 185 pounds.

Rogan also questioned the legitimacy of Chimaev’s prior middleweight wins. He dismissed Chimaev’s victory over Usman, who took the fight on short notice. Echoing what Bisping said, Rogan believed Robert Whittaker’s durability and experience could expose Chimaev’s cardio issues. The former champion has gone five hard rounds multiple times.

Rogan also thinks pacing will be crucial for the Chechen-born phenom. There is a possibility that Chiamev’s undefeated status maybe under threat against The Reaper. Only time will tell what the Chechen phenom will bring to the octagon.

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