“I’m the most dangerous guy. I’m coming for everyone.” Khamzat Chimaev wasn’t kidding when he said that to Joe Rogan during the UFC 279 Octagon interview after mauling Kevin Holland. That’s the kind of terror ‘Borz’ brings with him. His reputation as the boogeyman isn’t just built on an unblemished record or his ability to ragdoll opponents at will. It’s his crushing fighting style, one that can potentially leave lasting damage on his adversaries. That truly backs up his claim of being the most dangerous guy in the UFC.
One such moment came when he faced former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi last year. Chimaev returned to the Octagon after a year of battling fight cancellations, injuries, and illnesses. Many believed ‘Bobby Knuckles’ would be his toughest challenge yet. But Chimaev wasted no time! He went straight to work with his relentless grappling, quickly taking Whittaker’s back and crushing his jaw with a vicious face crank. The fight was over in just 3 minutes and 34 seconds of Round 1.
The aftermath? Robert Whittaker had to undergo multiple surgeries to fix his broken mandible (part of the jaw) and repair his dislocated teeth. In the words of the former middleweight champ on the MMA Arcade Podcast, “I couldn’t fight out of it. I could feel my teeth in the middle of my mouth.” That was definitely an excruciating experience. However, the tremors of that horrific injury still echo today, as Team Khabib coach Javier Mendez reflects on that moment once again.
During The Javier and The Mo Show, the AKA coach drew parallels between Khamzat’s finish and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s submission of Conor McGregor at UFC 229. He said, “Just like Khamzat did with Robert Whittaker, it would’ve been the same thing. And Khabib is strong enough to pull that one off—maybe not as quickly as Khamzat did, because Robert’s jaw, from what I heard, had already been broken. That’s why he has a gold tooth, so he doesn’t show the scars. But regardless, Khamzat still would’ve broken his jaw too, with that move. That move is a finishing move.”
Despite speaking to the effectiveness of Khamzat’s strength and technique, Mendez pointed out that Whittaker had issues with his jaw prior to the UFC 308 fight. ‘The Reaper’s history with dental injuries is well documented. He has been vocal about it and also admitted to dealing with this particular issue since his teenage years. But to be clear, he’s never publicly mentioned any specific jaw-related problems. That said, it’s possible his ongoing dental issues may have also affected his jaw.
April 9, 2022, Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States: JACKSONVILLE, FL – APRIL 9: Khamzat Chimaev celebrates his victory over Gilbert Burns in their Welterweight fight during the UFC 273 event at Vystar Memorial Arena on April 9, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Jacksonville, Florida United States – ZUMAp175 20220409_zsa_p175_152 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Whittaker’s injury was the kind of thing that could give anyone nightmares. And for Chimaev’s part, his reaction to Whittaker’s injury report showed the size of his heart. Let’s take a look at what ‘Borz’ had to say about the aftermath of UFC 308.
Khamzat Chimaev’s thoughts on Robert Whittaker’s jaw injury after UFC 308
Khamzat Chimaev was enjoying the biggest victory of his career. He had earned a former middleweight champion’s name on his resume, and that definitely got well-deserved praise from the top brass and the fans. However, when UFC color commentator and former two-division champ Daniel Cormier showed ‘Borz’ the picture of Robert Whittaker’s shattered jaw, it made him a little upset.
Chimaev said in the post-fight press conference: “Before I came in here they showed it to me, I felt something was wrong with his chin when I pushed it, I felt bad for that, I didn’t mean to break someone’s chin but it’s my work to make somebody (feel) pain and make me happy,”
That was an empathetic response from Khamzat Chimaev to his opponent’s gruesome injury. Nobody truly wants to see their adversary in pain, going through a long recovery process and multiple medical procedures—well, depending on the level of bad blood, of course. But it’s great to see that Robert Whittaker has continued fighting, even after enduring such a horrific setback.
With that being said, what do you think about this whole saga? It’s been a while since it happened, but we’d love to hear your thoughts on it, and on Javier Mendez’s comparisons to a similar moment from the Khabib-McGregor fight! Drop your take in the comments below!
The post Team Khabib Lays Down Firm Belief in Khamzat Chimaev’s Violent Act That Left Opponent Hospitalized appeared first on EssentiallySports.