Robert Whittaker shared how to beat Khamzat Chimaev after losing to him via first-round submission on October 26, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, where Chimaev’s face crank caused severe dental damage. On the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker highlighted Chimaev’s elite wrestling, suggesting top-tier jiu-jitsu as the key to victory. He pointed to Nassourdine Imavov, who won at UFC Paris on September 6, 2025, as a fighter who could test Chimaev with this approach.
Whittaker Weighs In on Chimaev
“I don’t know how anyone beats Khamzat (Chimaev) at the moment,” Whittaker said on the MMArcade podcast. “His wrestling is so high-level. I feel like the way to beat Khamzat is with high-level Jiu-Jitsu.“If (Nassourdine) Imavov has high-level back Jiu-Jitsu, then maybe we’ll see something. It’s a fight; anything can happen—maybe Chimaev dives into a knee or foot.”
Robert Whittaker says he doesn’t see anyone beating Khamzat Chimaev at the moment🤯
“I don’t know how anyone beats Khamzat at the moment. His wrestling is so high-level. I feel like the way to beat Khamzat is with high-level jiu-jitsu. If Imavov has high-level back jiu-jitsu,… pic.twitter.com/P06l1NpG1J
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 7, 2025
Nassourdine Imavov enters the conversation after his impressive win at UFC Paris. The French middleweight is 14-4 with 1 no contest, and he has shown well-rounded skills, mixing precise striking with solid ground defense. While Whittaker respects Imavov’s talent, he made it clear that defeating Chimaev would likely require more than standard grappling defense.
Khamzat Chimaev, 31, stands 6’2” with a 75-inch reach and holds an undefeated 14-0 MMA record with 6 knockouts. He joined the UFC in 2020, setting a record with two wins in 10 days against John Phillips and Rhys McKee. His key victories include Gilbert Burns in 2022, Kamaru Usman in 2023, and Whittaker in 2024. He won the middleweight title at UFC 319 with a unanimous decision over Du Plessis, landing 12 takedowns.
