UFC’s Robert Whittaker prefers Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev

Robert Whittaker prefers preventing Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev subsequent.

Contemporary off a powerful win over Paulo Costa at UFC 298, Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) is eyeing a return on the rumored Perth, Australia card in August. With the previous UFC middleweight champion having already fought the vast majority of the top-ranked contenders, he’s but to face two massive names – Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) and Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC). However for Whittaker, a struggle with former champ Strickland has extra perks.

“That’s difficult as a result of that doesn’t transfer me. It does in clout, but it surely doesn’t transfer me greater up within the rankings,” Whittaker informed MMA Junkie of a struggle with Chimaev. “I don’t know. I wish to struggle guys within the high 5. Beating Strickland places me at (No.) 1 once more, and that’s as shut as you may get actually.”

Strickland took purpose at Whittaker in the course of the UFC 297 pre-fight press convention, implying that he’s one-dimensional. Whittaker may solely snort off his feedback.

“Yeah, fairly good blitzing, ?” Whittaker stated. “And everybody is aware of I do it, so I’m to see if he can do one thing about it, as effectively. I’ll blitz him, as effectively.”

Strickland captured the middleweight title in Sydney, Australia when he upset Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. He later misplaced it to Dricus Du Plessis this previous January at UFC 297.

Strickland was very talked-about amongst the Australian followers, so Whittaker thinks it shouldn’t be too troublesome to lure him again to preventing there.

“He had an enormous reception right here in Australia,” Whittaker stated. “I’m positive that the followers would like to see me and him cross paths right here on dwelling soil, and he by all appears to be like of it, I believe he has fond recollections of Australia, proper? So, I’d suppose he could be up for it.”