- Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev is set for UFC Saudi
- The clash will determine the real No. 1 middleweight contender
The UFC is heading to Saudi Arabia with an exciting card to be headlined by Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev.
UFC came up with a huge headliner
The UFC was supposedly scheduled to hit Riyadh earlier this month to run the UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev card. However, some of the company’s Saudi Arabian partners reportedly were reportedly dissatisfied with the bouts mustered for the event, prompting the UFC to come up with a massive one.
True to form, UFC president Dana White announced the middleweight showdown between Whittaker and Chimaev. The bout will be for the No. 1 middleweight contender and will headline the UFC Saudi Arabia event on June 22.
BOOOOOOM!!!!!!
UFC is heading to Saudi Arabia for the first time with a BAD ASS card, headlined by Whittaker vs Chimaev LIVE and FREE on ABC on July 22nd pic.twitter.com/EOfE025BmJ
— danawhite (@danawhite) March 28, 2024
Whittaker vs. Chimaev could change the landscape of the 185-pound division
Stating the obvious, Whittaker vs. Chimaev could certainly shake up the middleweight division as reigning champion Dricus du Plessis could possibly face a fresh challenger. Both “The Reaper” and “Borz” have long been waiting to get a crack at the title as they believe they have earned it with their impressive previous performances.
Whittaker is coming off a dominant decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 298. By contrast, Chimaev remained unbeaten in the UFC for seven consecutive fights with his latest victory came at the expense of Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.
UFC Saudi will be co-headed by the heavyweight contest between the No. 3 contender Sergei Pavlovich and No. 6 contender Alexander Volkov. Other notable fights in the card is Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez and Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir.
