Absolutely convinced Whittaker will stop Chimaev

[The_Renaissance]

I'm leaning towards this as well.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I'd love to read analytical replies, not just fanboy replies.

Rob's striking acumen is a world above Khamzat's. I see Rob's movement and striking will give Khamzat more to think about than Rob to think about from Khamzat's wrestling threat.

I also believe Rob is extremely comfortable with any threat of power from Khamzat, in comparison to Rob's experience in that weight class.

I fully expect Rob to either K.O him, or at least knock him down badly enough to finish him elsewhere.

I know you guys don t like hearing it but Rob is unreliable now. We don‘t know which version shows up.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

KC is gonna gas

He always does but tends to win the first 2 decisively.

 

[chinarice]

Whittaker will destroy Khamzat because he's so much better but if he loses, it's because he isn't in his prime.

Gotta love this place. lol

 

[Memnok]

Couldn't take Aliskerov down, took in two rounds to win.

Whittaker literally blew Ikram out of the water in one round, didn't get hit once.

A complete and utter blowout compared to Chimaev's effort.

Khamzat knocked him out cold at 2:26 in the first round, Bobby knocked him out at1:49 in the first round. I don't think there is much difference here.

 

[World eater]

Every time before a big fight we get these kinds of threads where a Nostradamus-like sherbro is absolutely sure about the outcome of a fight. Please, post your betting slips. If you are absolutely sure, then it’s not gambling but smart investment.

 

[Chael_Sonnen]

I think Whittaker should be the favorite, but I will never be "absolutely" convinced he will be.

Whittaker is too fragile, has been KO'd too many times, to have this level of confidence.

Chimaev's weakness = lack of stamina, but he is universally ferocious out of the gate.

Naturally, Whittaker's strength is designed to exploit Chimaev's only weakness, and I agree Whittaker should be the favorite to do exactly this, because he has faced and controlled much bigger, much more fearsome opponents in the past.

But Whittaker has also been hurt and finished early, which doesn't bode well to a dynamo like Chimaev, so it should be an exciting fight to keep everyone on pins and needles.

The thing that makes me the most confident in Whittaker right now was his complete decimation of Ikram Aliskerov, blowing him out of the water even more decisively than did Chimaev.

Chimaev struggled with Aliskerov, while Whittaker absolutely outclassed and decimated him.

Common opponents may not always tell the full story, but they are certainly a prelude to what may be in store.

Sick of Chimaev at this point, so I'm rooting for Whittaker.

Good analysis. Agreed on all points.

I'm leaning Whittaker via early KO, Khamzat's striking style is very one dimensional (although he is extremely good at that one dimension) and he doesn't move his head or back up quickly enough to avoid Whittaker's blitzes. I'm thinking he gets clipped early and never recovers.

That being said, as you say Whittaker's chin isn't good enough to be absolutely sure about winning against someone as offensively potent as Chimaev.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Yeah.. he will stop him...

FROM BEING DUCKED BY THE TITLE HOLDER

LETS GO CHIMAEV THE GOAT

 

[Edward Henry Berg]

Khamzat knocked him out cold at 2:26 in the first round, Bobby knocked him out at1:49 in the first round. I don't think there is much difference here.

Agree with you in terms of time & results.

However, there were many wrestling struggles up against the fence, between Ikram and Khamzat, where they nullified and canceled each other. Khamzat was the aggressor, but Ikram counted him well. Ikram also hit Khamzat with a few shots.

By contrast, Aliskerov never touched Whittaker, who pitched a shutout, and finished Ikram without breaking a sweat.

Aliskerov appeared strong and competitive with Chimaev, but like he got caught with a devastating punch.

By contrast, Ikram appeared to be a completely-fragile novice against Whittaker, who didn't belong in the same cage with Robert.

 

[Ladder Master]

Nobody should ever question Khamzat’s work ethic. His fight IQ is a different story.

He has not even showed up for work once this year.

 

[CombatCyborg]

Unlike Dricus, Khamzat's style is predictable and Rob knows what's coming his way. He's not going to get drowned like Kevin Holland or Leech, he has too much cardio and wrestling experience of his own. He could get caught, but he's the best striker Khamzat has fought.

I expect Khamzat to fade and Rob will take advantage of it where Burns and Usman couldn't.

 

[HeadKickerV2]

You all forget that x factor, the fact that Whitakers chin is gone.

If Bobby gets close for exchange he might get clipped, Khamzat has heavy hands and a better chin. If he keeps distance and just goes in and out he might get Khamzat tired.

 

[blaseblase]

Whittaker has finished 1 fight in 7 years and it was against an unproven prospect. If Chimaev slows down I think he will retreat into a defensive shell and Whittaker will just outpoint him for the rest of the fight.

 

[cade187]

You're seeking analytical replies, but then you post a bunch of opinions with no justification for why you feel that way.

 

[Sakuraba'sEar]

It depends if Khamzat has shored up some of his weaknesses by now. If not, I can see him losing to Rob

 

[usernamee]

I've been known to gargle Chimaevs nuts in my mouth and I favour Whittaker in this one.

Plausible scenario is Khamzat exerts all his energy taking Rob down for the first round and perhaps 2nd as well but Whittaker keeps popping back up so he has to keep trying to drag him down which gasses Chimaev out even more.

And after that it's Whittaker's fight to win.

I just wish if Chimaev wins he'll get the credit he deserves, but he wont.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

I'd love to read analytical replies, not just fanboy replies.

Rob's striking acumen is a world above Khamzat's. I see Rob's movement and striking will give Khamzat more to think about than Rob to think about from Khamzat's wrestling threat.

I also believe Rob is extremely comfortable with any threat of power from Khamzat, in comparison to Rob's experience in that weight class.

I fully expect Rob to either K.O him, or at least knock him down badly enough to finish him elsewhere.

I tend to agree -- I'd favor Whitaker if it were only 3 rounds, but it being 5 rounds really says to me that he gets the finish. Khamzat won't be able to wrestle for more than 3 rounds and Whitaker hits like a truck, which people forget since he fight elite competition so much.

 

[burningspear]

doesnt matter if you've the hands of floyd, in that first rd you're getting mauled, evade the submission and try not to ship too much damage, if Rob gets to the 2nd, game on.

 

[AzorAhai1]

I truly believe that Khamzat could get the sub win over Whittaker in the first round. The intensity that Khamzat brings in the first round, it's very hard to not see him getting the takedown on Rob, and then that could spell trouble for Rob. How Khamzat looked in the first round vs Usman was impressive. We are yet to see someone come at Rob that aggressively in the first round, but Khamzat is so aggressive in the first when looking for the takedown. I'm also not entirely convinced on Whittaker in his recent fights, especially Costa, who went life and death with a past prime Rockhold. Aliskerov was already starched by Khamzat too, in a more brutal fashion. I'm yet to see Whittaker do anything like that to any of his opponents for a long time. Khamzat also did similar to Meerschaert. I'm not really sold on this "new" Rob Whittaker if I'm honest.

 

[Superior]

I’m sorry.

On paper this looks like a good fight for Bobby but he’s gonna get his shit pushed in.