Robert Whittaker: Khamzat Chimaev fight good for 'clout,' beating Sean Strickland puts me at No. 1

Robert Whittaker prefers preventing Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev subsequent.

Recent off a powerful win over Paulo Costa at UFC 298, Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) is eyeing a return on the rumored Perth, Australia card in August. With the previous UFC middleweight champion having already fought nearly all of the top-ranked contenders, he’s but to face two huge names – Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) and Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC). However for Whittaker, a combat with former champ Strickland has extra perks.

“That’s difficult as a result of that doesn’t transfer me. It does in clout, nevertheless it doesn’t transfer me increased up within the rankings,” Whittaker instructed MMA Junkie of a combat with Chimaev. “I don’t know. I wish to combat guys within the high 5. Beating Strickland places me at (No.) 1 once more, and that’s as shut as you will get actually.”

Strickland took intention at Whittaker through the UFC 297 pre-fight press convention, implying that he’s one-dimensional. Whittaker might solely snort off his feedback.

“Yeah, fairly good blitzing, you understand?” Whittaker mentioned. “And everybody is aware of I do it, so I’m to see if he can do one thing about it, as properly. I’ll blitz him, as properly.”

Strickland captured the middleweight title in Sydney, Australia when he upset Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. He later misplaced it to Dricus Du Plessis this previous January at UFC 297.

Strickland was very talked-about amongst the Australian followers, so Whittaker thinks it shouldn’t be too tough to lure him again to preventing there.

“He had an enormous reception right here in Australia,” Whittaker mentioned. “I’m certain that the followers would like to see me and him cross paths right here on house soil, and he by all appears of it, I feel he has fond recollections of Australia, proper? So, I might suppose he could be up for it.”