Tag: UFC on ABC 6

Dricus Du Plessis: Robert Whittaker beating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC on ABC 6 doesn’t warrant title shot

Dricus Du Plessis has already beaten Robert Whittaker and doesn’t feel like he needs to do it again.

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] won’t entertain a title defense vs. [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] if he gets past [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] at UFC on ABC 6.

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) takes on Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) on June 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in what’s expected to be a No. 1 contender bout at middleweight.

UFC middleweight champion Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is interested in Chimaev as a potential title challenger. But having already beaten Whittaker by TKO less than a year ago, Du Plessis wouldn’t be sold on him as his next opponent.

“Should he beat Whittaker, I would love to fight Khamzat,” Du Plessis told Fight Wave. “In my opinion, should Whittaker beat Khamzat, I don’t think it warrants him a title shot. Honestly, I would love to see him and Strickland fight it out for a No. 1 contender fight.”

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Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is expected to make his first title defense against Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC), potentially Aug. 17 at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. South Africa’s only UFC champion ever says he’s been ready, and isn’t sure why the fight isn’t announced yet.

“Yeah for me, I’m in. I’m ready,” Du Plessis said. “I’ve agreed to everything, I’m ready, I want to do it. That’s the fight I want. I called him out after winning the belt and that’s the fight the fans want to see and at the end of the day, that’s the fight that I want to have, that’s the guy that I want to fight and for me, let’s just announce this thing. I don’t know what’s the hold up. I want it to be announced.

“I don’t know. I’ve said yes, 100 percent. I don’t know from his side. I don’t know what the story is. I don’t know what the hold up is. Maybe the UFC is waiting for something, I’m not sure. At the end of the day, I’ve agreed to it. If they had to phone me today and say we’re doing the Sean Strickland second fight, I’ll be like, ‘Great, let’s do it.’ If they say ‘No, we’re going to wait and do the Khamzat fight,’ great.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Jared Gordon eyes winner of Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett after UFC on ABC 6

Jared Gordon has unfinished business with both Bobby Green and Paddy Pimblett.

[autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag] has unfinished business with both [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] and [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag].

Gordon’s former foes Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC) and Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) will square off July 27 at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.

Gordon (20-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) lost a controversial decision to Pimblett in December 2022. Four months later, his fight against Green at UFC Fight Night 222 ended in a no contest after an accidental clash of heads led to Gordon being knocked out unconscious.

“The thing is with Bobby, he’s so unpredictable,” Gordon told Middle Easy. “You don’t know what you’re going to get from him, and when he gets going, then he wins. But he’s liable to get hit, and Paddy goes for it. Hands are down, he’s got that swag – Paddy goes for it. If you watch my fight, my hands were up the whole time when I fought Paddy, and I won. But f*cking look what Bobby Green did to me: I’m beating him and then he just lunged in with his head.

“That had to be on purpose because he was frustrated because he was like, he didn’t expect me to do what I was doing. I was winning that fight. So I think Paddy can get it done, too. I think if Bobby gets going, Paddy can’t have an off night. He’s got to get going right away. He can’t let Bobby set a rhythm. Once Bobby sets the rhythm, then he starts getting confident and then he starts doing well. But obviously Paddy is also unpredictable and can land a big shot or take you down and sub you. So I don’t know, man. I want the winner though.”

Gordon meets Nasrat Haqparast at UFC on ABC 6 June 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He recognizes that talks of a rematch between him and Pimblett has lost steam, but he plans on being in Manchester to support his friend Belal Muhammad, who challenges welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the UFC 304 headliner.

“It’s been over a year and his fight against Tony (Ferguson), he destroyed him – but he still didn’t look great,” Gordon said. “And then all of his other opponents, Paddy, like, he destroyed them – so what does that say about where I’m at?

“I’m not trying to pat myself on the back, but I think they want to stay away from that fight, me vs. Paddy, because they saw what I did in the first one. I think it would be awesome to fight Paddy in a co-main or a main event in London or something, or in Vegas again.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Robert Whittaker: If Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t manage his pace, ‘it’s going to be an early night for him’

Robert Whittaker warns Khamzat Chimaev that his furious starts could cost him in their fight.

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] warns [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] that his furious starts could cost him in their fight.

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) will look to hand Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) the first loss of his career when the pair meet in the UFC on ABC 6 headliner June 22 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Chimaev has shown a tendency to slow down in his recent wins over Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, but ultimately outlasted them. “Borz” will enter the first 25-minute fight of his career.

“It’s a five-round fight, so I’m sure his pacing’s got to be a little different, otherwise it’s going to be an early night for him,” Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia.

Whittaker is wary of the fact that Chimaev isn’t just a strong grappler, but is confident he has the advantage on the feet.

“It’s something to be aware of,” Whittaker said of Chimaev’s striking. “He’s got power. He’s got a very clean one-two down the pipe. I’m aware of it. Definitely not – I’m not underestimating it, but I can handle it. I do think I have the striking superiority.”

Whittaker sees Burns’ close loss to Chimaev at UFC 273 as a similar blueprint he could follow, but plans on displaying a more refined version.

“(Burns) took away (Chimaev’s) strength of grappling and put him in danger in a lot of situations with his striking,” Whittaker said. “In my opinion, my striking is crispier and cleaner then Gilbert Burns’.

“I think my spacing lends itself to make landing those strikes easier, as well as defending takedowns. I think the output is different because I’m going to be able to control the space the way I do.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

‘Bullet’ booking: Shara Magomedov gets 48-fight veteran newcomer for UFC Saudi Arabia

Shara Magomedov gets new opponent Joilton Lutterbach for the UFC’s June return to Riyadh.

Highly touted middleweight [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] will stay on the lineup for the UFC’s return to Saudi Arabia.

Magomedov (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was set to fight Ihor Potieria at the June 22 event, UFC on ABC 6, in Riyadh, but Potieria was pulled to fight Michel Pereira at UFC 301, instead. Now Shara “Bullet” will take on promotional newcomer [autotag]Joilton Lutterbach[/autotag] (38-10 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the UFC announced Monday.

Magomedov made his UFC debut this past October in Abu Dhabi and outworked Bruno Silva for a unanimous decision at UFC 294. It was just the second time in his career the Dagestani went to a decision. He has 10 of his 12 wins by knockout.

Joilton Lutterbach is a Brazilian who fights out of Germany. Although he’s just 31, he has 48 MMA fights, as well as many other competitive fights in disciplines like muay Thai and kickboxing. He has a fairly even record with 14 knockouts, 13 submissions and 11 decisions, and he’s only been finished three times in his 10 losses.

With the change, the UFC on ABC 6 lineup now includes:

  • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
  • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Volkan Oezdemir vs. Johnny Walker
  • Joilton Lutterbach vs. Shara Magomedov
  • Jared Gordon vs. Nasrat Haqparast
  • Abu Azaitar vs. Denis Tiuliulin
  • Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
  • Muin Gafurov vs. Kyung Ho Kang
  • Farid Basharat vs. Montel Jackson
  • Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Muhammad Naimov
  • Nicolas Dalby vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
  • Lee Chang Ho vs. Xiao Long

Anthony Smith: UFC’s Khamzat Chimaev can beat anybody across any weight class – in a one-round fight

Anthony Smith thinks Khamzat Chimaev is unbeatable in the first round, but has concerns about his gas tank.

[autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] is unbeatable – if the fight stays in the first round.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) faces Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) in a middleweight title eliminator which headlines UFC on ABC 6 on June 22 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Chimaev is still undefeated, but hasn’t looked as dominant as of late. He’s gotten off to good starts in recent wins over Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, but slowed down as the fight progressed. Smith says in the first five minutes of a fight, he’d take Chimaev over anyone.

“I’m a real big believer in Khamzat, I really am,” Smith said on his “Believe You Me” podcast with Michael Bisping. “I think the guy’s incredible. But if we’re just being critical, first round. I think Khamzat can beat anybody across any weight class, I don’t give a sh*t who it is.

“Anybody in the world, he can beat in the first round. We start getting into the second, third, fourth, fifth – the Gilbert Burns fight is a perfect example. If that fight goes another two rounds, (he’d be in trouble). … First round, monster.”

However, Smith isn’t too sure of Chimaev’s chances against former champion Whittaker in what will be the first five-round fight of his career.

“Whittaker won’t get tired, and that’s my sticking point,” Smith said. “If he can do lots of big damage early in the first round, second round, and kind of compromise Whittaker early, then I think he can cruise. If he paces himself early, now he’s not the Khamzat we’re used to. He’s not as effective. So I don’t know. I hate to say it, but I lean Whittaker.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Robert Whittaker confident he’ll handle Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling in UFC Saudi Arabia showdown

Robert Whittaker won’t be afraid to tussle on the ground with Khamzat Chimaev if necessary.

Former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] is not afraid to tussle on the ground with [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] when necessary.

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) takes on Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 6 main event June 22 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Chimaev has mauled numerous fighters on the ground – including Kamaru Usman in Round 1 of their UFC 294 fight. However, Whittaker doesn’t see Chimaev being able to do the same to him.

“He’s definitely got a really sound jiu-jitsu game, but he mixes it really well with his wrestling,” Whittaker told ESPN Australia. “I think what a lot of people aren’t ready for is the mixture of the two, making it really MMA-esque.

“Utilizing it up against the wall, using his strength with his long arms and tall frame to push his game plan on the fence, to push it to the ground. Whilst I definitely think he’s dangerous there, I’ve been grappling my entire life. I am very, very confident in my own skillsets. Even if it were a pure wrestling-jiu-jitsu format, I would hold my own if not get a W in that way too.”

With their fight being a five-round headliner, Whittaker knows he has the advantage there. He was able to outlast Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero twice in championship fights.

“I definitely think the goal, much like all of my other opponents, is just to go out there and fight my fight,” Whittaker said. “It’s about going out there and pushing my game plan onto him and see how he adjusts to me because I bring an arsenal of skillsets that he’s not ready for, I believe. I think the surest way to victory is to go in there, obviously not play to his strengths, which is not engaging in the wrestling but not be afraid of it.

“I can wrestle with the best of them, and I’ve shown and proved that. I’m going to go in there, and I’m going to fight my fight. I’m going to fight a standup fight. I’m going to see where it goes. I’m going to drag it out. It’s a five-round fight. I’ve been in plenty of those, and I’ve got no quit in me, so let’s see how this goes.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Robert Whittaker hopes Jiri Prochazka steers clear of UFC middleweight move because ‘then we’re enemies’

Robert Whittaker explains why he won’t be thrilled if Jiri Prochazka makes an eventual move down to the UFC middleweight division.

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] won’t be thrilled if [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] makes an eventual move down to the UFC middleweight division.

Former light heavyweight champion Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) recently revealed one of the long-term career goals is to drop to 185 pounds. He first intends to recapture the belt at his current weight class, but is confident he could fight in the division 20 pounds lower.

Current middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis encouraged Prochazka to come down, revealing the Czech athlete actually walks around at a lower weight than him outside of camp.

Former champ and current contender Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), however, isn’t as enthusiastic about the idea of Prochazka joining the division.

“I hope he doesn’t,” Whittaker said on the MMArcade Podcast. “I really hope he doesn’t (move to middleweight). I like the guy a lot, but if he enters the middleweight division, then we’re enemies. That’s just the nature of the game. They’re all enemies, except for my teammates.”

Whittaker said he doesn’t doubt Prochazka’s ability to cut the weight. However, he’s not as confident in the idea Prochazka would have the same effectiveness as a fighter.

“I can’t see him at (middleweight),” Whittaker said. “I’ve seen him in real life. I’ve been up close with him, and he’s big, dude. It’s not just his physical size. He’s got a big frame. Wide shoulders. He’s really tall. He’s 6-foot-4. But he’s a big, big guy. I think he has the mentalities to get (down in weight). Don’t get me wrong.

“If he wants to get to middleweight, he’ll do it. Whether or not it would be a good move, it’s hard to say. He’s smashing it at light heavy, and he’s said he’s still got goals there. Stay at light heavyweight so we can stay friends.”

Whittaker, No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, is set to return to the octagon against No. 8-ranked Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC on ABC 6 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 22.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC on ABC 6 headliner

Khamzat Chimaev is set for the next toughest test of his career against Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 6. Here’s what you need to know.

[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] got past one former UFC champion in his most recent fight, and this summer he’ll try to defeat another when he meets [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] in June.

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev preview

Undefeated Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, returns for the first time since September 2022, when he defeated former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by majority decision. Chimaev’s other UFC victories include notables Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland, among others.

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), ranked No. 4, looks to continue the momentum he picked up from a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa in February. The win was his second in three fights and returned him to the win column after a TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis.

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev preliminary odds

Accord to preliminary odds on FanDuel, the fight is expected to be close, with Chimaev a slight favorite at -186, while Whittaker is listed as a +144 underdog.

How to watch Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC on ABC 6

When: Saturday, June 22, 2024

Where: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Broadcast/streaming: ABC, ESPN+

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.