Robert Whittaker does not sound convinced Sean Strickland has the answer for Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328.
Chimaev is expected to defend the UFC middleweight title against Strickland on May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The matchup has plenty of heat, but Whittaker is focused on the wrestling problem Strickland has to solve.
Whittaker fought Chimaev at UFC 308 and was submitted in the first round. That gives his read some real weight. He has already felt Chimaev’s entries, pressure, and commitment once the cage door shuts.
Speaking in a clip posted by UFC on Paramount, Whittaker first acknowledged Strickland’s confidence before explaining why he still favors Chimaev.
“We want to see if Strickland has what it takes. All the things he’s talking, he talks a big game, he almost convinces me that he can do it. But having been in there with Chimaev, having seen what Chimaev can do once he gets his hands on him — and he will, because he shoots from so far away and he commits wholeheartedly, and he will get you to the mat. It’s what happens after. Seeing that he has the cardio to be able to do that for five rounds as well, mate, gun to my head, Chimaev’s going to run him over.”
Watch the clip below:
Robert Whittaker believes Khamzat Chimaev is going to run through Sean Strickland 👀
“Having been in there with Chimaev… Chimaev’s going to run him over.” #UFC328 pic.twitter.com/CwuluAO4br
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) May 4, 2026
Whittaker Sees The Wrestling Problem Clearly
Strickland is not an easy out. He is a former UFC middleweight champion with a 30-7 professional MMA record, a pressure boxer, and one of the more awkward defensive fighters in the division. His style works when he controls range, keeps opponents reacting, and forces them into his pace.
Chimaev’s style attacks that comfort zone immediately.
The champion is unbeaten at 15-0, with a wrestling-heavy game built around forcing opponents into defensive reactions before they can settle. If he gets Strickland backing up early, the fight can turn from a boxing match into a long night of takedown defense, fence work, and mat survival.
That is why Whittaker’s prediction carries weight. He is not saying Strickland lacks toughness. He is saying the matchup asks a brutal question, and he does not see Strickland having the answer.
For Strickland, the path is obvious but difficult. He has to keep the fight upright, make Chimaev work for every grip, and punish failed entries without giving up clean resets. If he spends too much time defending instead of leading, the rounds can disappear fast.
UFC 328 now has another strong opinion attached to it from someone who actually knows what Chimaev brings. Whittaker has been in there, felt the pressure, and came away with a simple read.
He thinks Chimaev runs him over.
