Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker expressed his surprise at the sudden announcement of his upcoming fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker admitted he hadn’t expected the bout, as he was preparing for a different event. However, he welcomed the opportunity, seeing it as a chance to work towards reclaiming the middleweight title.
“It’s a bit of a shock,” Whittaker admitted, reflecting on the suddenness of the announcement. “I would have assumed UFC was going to hold me in the ranks for the Australia card in August, which is kind of what I was preparing for.”
Robert Whittaker
Whittaker, who is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 298, had been eyeing a return at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. However, he welcomed the opportunity presented by the UFC, viewing the fight against Chimaev as a crucial step towards reclaiming the middleweight title.
“I’m in a great headspace to take another hard fight,” Whittaker stated. “Every hard fight pushes my skills to the next level, and this gets me in line to get the belt back. That’s the goal, isn’t it?”
Robert Whittaker
Whittaker also shared his excitement about competing in Saudi Arabia, noting the historic significance of being part of the UFC’s first event in the country. Despite acknowledging Chimaev’s skills, Whittaker expressed confidence in his ability to compete.
The middleweight fight between Whittaker and Chimaev is set for June 22 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, marking a big event for the UFC.
