Getty

Khamzat Chimaev of the UFC

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes that Khamzat Chimaev is going to wipe the floor with Sean Strickland at UFC 328.

Chimaev defends his belt for the first time this Saturday when he takes on Strickland in a true grudge match between bitter rivals in the main event of UFC 328. It’s one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year so far, as both men do not like each other. Not only should it be a great fight, but the media sessions this week leading up to it should be entertaining, too.

Robert Whittaker Convinced Khamzat Chimaev Will Defeat Sean Strickland

Whittaker, the former UFC middleweight champion, knows firsthand what it’s like to be locked in the cage with Chimaev. The two locked horns at UFC 308 in October 2024, and Chimaev broke Whittaker’s jaw with a nasty neck crank in the first round. That was the win that Chimaev needed to prove to everyone that he had what it took to be a middleweight champion, which he of course ended up doing in his next fight when he dominated Dricus Du Plessis for five rounds at UFC 319.

Speaking to UFC on Paramount+ ahead of UFC 328, Whittaker was asked to give his assessment of the main event between Chimaev and Strickland. While he wants to believe Strickland when he says that he’s the man to dethrone the champ, ultimately, Whittaker sees this fight as one-way traffic for Chimaev.

“Well, we want to see if Strickland has what it takes. All the things he talks about, 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 when he gets his hands on you — and he will, because he shoots from so far away, and he commits wholeheartedly — he will get you to the mat. It’s what happens after. Seeing as he has the cardio to do it for five rounds, mate, gun to my head, Chimaev’s going to run him over,” Whittaker said.

Khamzat Chimaev Could Move to Light Heavyweight If He Beats Sean Strickland

If Chimaev is victorious against Strickland at UFC 328, there have already been inklings that he may make the trip up to light heavyweight for his next bout and chase another UFC title. After all, training partner Khalil Rountree Jr. recently said in an interview that he believes Chimaev is considering a move up to 205 lbs, and he thinks the entire division is “screwed” if that happens.

There are still fresh middleweight contenders for Chimaev to fight, such as Nassourdine Imavov and Joe Pyfer, but it really does feel like Chimaev is going to move up to light heavyweight if he beats Strickland this weekend, particularly if the fight is one-sided like the betting odds suggest it will be.

If that’s the case, then Chimaev will join Whittaker as former middleweight champions who have switched divisions, as Whittaker is fighting Nikita Krylov in his 205 lbs debut at UFC 329. Soon, Chimaev could join his former opponent in his new weight class, but it all depends on how the fight with Strickland goes this weekend at UFC 328.