The UFC will make another attempt at running the matchup between [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag], this time at UFC 308 in October.
After their first booking for the UFC Saudi Arabia main event in June fell apart on short notice due to health issues for Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), the promotion will again try to pit the unbeaten sensation against former champion Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) in a five-round bout on the Oct. 26 card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the news on Saturday (via X):
BIG NEWS FROM THE BOSS MAN 🚨#UFC308 https://t.co/BRP1P9bdMx
— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2024
After making an unforgettable entry into the UFC in 2020 with a record two victories in 10 days, Chimaev has struggled badly to keep active inside the octagon. His health has played a major role in that, as was the case once again in his fizzled bout with Whittaker earlier this year. The No. 9 fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings outpointed Kamaru Usman in his most recent bout at UFC 294 in October, and will now try to get some momentum going.
No. 4-ranked Whittaker, meanwhile, once again steps up to the challenge of taking on the lesser-ranked foe. He destroyed Chimaev’s replacement Ikram Aliskerov by first-round knockout at UFC on ABC 6, then said he would welcome a rescheduling with Chimaev if that’s what the promotion wanted. That was indeed the case, and now Whittaker will attempt to add Chimaev’s name to his winning streak alongside Aliskerov and Paulo Costa to prove he’s worthy of a chance to regain the 185-pound belt.
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The latest UFC 308 lineup now includes:
- Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
- Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker
- Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
- Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
- Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcos Rogerio
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.