- Robert Whittaker shared his early UFC 312 main event prediction
- “The Reaper” thinks Khamzat Chimaev can beat both Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland
Robert Whittaker doesn’t see Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 playing out differently from the first fight and believes Khamzat Chimaev could beat them both.
Same outcome
Speaking on his MMArcade podcast, “The Reaper” got honest about how he thinks the UFC 312 main event will go down. Whittaker expects minimal to zero difference with Du Plessis possibly outpointing Strickland once again.
“In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different,” Whittaker said. “Du Plessis is such a dog in there. He’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time? Because, if we look at it, doesn’t happen often, but the challenger beats the champion by decision. Du Plessis did that, now he’s the champion and that was a close first fight. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening.”
Khamzat can dominate both DDP and Sean
Regardless of the outcome of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, Chimaev is very likely to be the next in line. For Whittaker, “Borz” will have his way against either “Stillknocks” or “Tarzan,” especially on the ground.
“I think he just takes them down and does the same thing, like not necessarily to me but how he beat [Kamaru] Usman or how he beat Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker said of Chimaev. “I can see those sort of fights.”
“I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis just because Du Plessis is like a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?,” he added.
Du Plessis will try and defend his middleweight title for the second time. He already got his eyes locked on Chimaev next and is planning to chase double champion status after beating “Borz.” But for now, the reigning champ needs to deal with Strickland at UFC 312.
Watch Whittaker’s conversation below:
Robert Whittaker believes Dricus du Plessis will defeat Strickland again.
“What could Sean Strickland do to change the outcome this time?”
— Verdict (@VerdictMMA) December 9, 2024
