MMA legend unsure if Robert Whittaker has skills to handle ‘Swarm attack’ from Khamzat Chimaev

Jayson Mayhem has his doubts regarding Robert Whittaker's chances against Khamzat Chimaev.

Robert Whittaker facing Khamzat Chimaev’s swarm attack(via Imago)

Like many UFC fans, Jayson Mayhem is extremely hyped about the upcoming middleweight fight between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev. However, the UFC legend isn’t sure about who will win the upcoming clash.

Mayhem recently did an interview with popular MMA journalist Helen Yee, where he was asked about his opinion on the Chimaev vs. Whittaker fight. Mayhem was a little hesitant but he wasn’t sure if Whittaker could defend against the relentless style of Chimaev.

Whittaker got that style. It's so exciting to watch. I don't know if he has the wrestling ability to hold off Chimaev's takedown or the swarm attacks….that's a tough one. My hearts with Whittaker but my wallet might be with Chimaev.

Jayson Mayhem via Helen Yee Youtube

Although The Reaper‘s main ability is to box and take the fights to the end, his grappling is definitely underrated. However, against someone like Khamzat Chimaev, the Kiwi-Aussie will have to be extremely careful at all times. The fact that he is coming into the fight on the back of an impressive performance against Paulo Costa at UFC 299 should boost his confidence.

FS Video

The Chimaev vs. Whittaker fight is going to be the main event of the first-ever UFC Arabia. Given the popularity of Chimaev in the Middle East, the anticipation is massive. Both the fighters are expected to get a huge welcome from the Saudi Arabian crowd. However, for Whittaker, it might be like fighting in the opponent’s territory. Moreover, the task of taking on an undefeated opponent will add to that pressure.

Robert Whittaker lays down his plan to fight Khamzat Chimaev

Whittaker will take on Chimaev in a five-round matchup on June 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight will be aired live on ABC and both fighters will finally be able to get their hands on each other.

Robert Whittaker on his plan to fight Khamzat Chimaev(via Forbes/MMA Fighting)

The fighter in a recent interview with MMArcade talked about his mindset going into the fight camp. Whitaker confirmed that he will give his best during the training as he is aware of the threat.

I do understand the task at hand. It’s going to be hard, and I’m going to be grinding my ass off this camp….He’s a hard fighter. He likes to grapple a lot. He uses his reach and range to good effectiveness. He’s got good knockout power. He likes to play the villain against his opponents, but he’s an honorable fighter.

Robert Whittaker via MMArcade Youtube

The former middleweight champion initially thought the fight was scheduled just to hype up the card, however, that’s not the case. Recently, Dana White announced that the winner of Whittaker-Chimaev will likely get a title fight.

In case you missed it!

#About the Author

Ajinkya Aswale

(1115 Articles Published)

Ajinkya Aswale works as a combat sports editor for First Sportz. His love for sports and reading makes him a great fit for the role. Apart from that he's also interested in writing, music and playing instruments. Eventually, he'd love to explore the world and share his adventures through any medium possible.

MMA legend unsure if Robert Whittaker has skills to handle ‘Swarm attack’ from Khamzat Chimaev

Robert Whittaker lays down his plan to fight Khamzat Chimaev

Stay Updated!

Joe Rogan’s sent wild invite to Conor McGregor before he became world’s biggest MMA fighter

Merab Dvalishvili rains down on Team Khabib and Dagestani fighters with similar skills critic as another UFC champ: “Khabib simply did not meet a worthy opponent”

‘Bully’ Belal Muhammad says no to scrap with brother Islam Makhachev at welterweight, would rather go up to 185: “Probably the easiest weight class…”