Media Whittaker suprised by the UFC choice for MW title fight - "He literally just sat out"

[Unheralded Truth]

- I'm surprised Sean literally just sat out, like we all laughed at him for saying that he was just gonna sit out until he gets a title shot, then dude straight up got next title shot.
Props for that like, you gotta give it to him. But in my opinion, I don't see the fight going any different. Not any different, Du Plessis is such a dog in there. He's gonna come
with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome now? Because if we look at it, the challenger beat the champion
by decision and that doesn't happen often. Du Plessis did that in a close first fight, do you know what I mean? You see where I'm angling with this. I just don't know what
Sean can do differently, to change that outcome from happening again?

- Khamzat should definitely have been there over Sean, I mean he was in discussion for this already when he beat Usman that time, you know? He had some time off and
had to fight me, beat me, so I don't know. He's always kind of been in a title discussion, he's undefeated, it's just hard to argue against giving him a shot at this point. Especially
now when you give Sean a title shot like that.

 

[Substance Abuse]

He's right to an extent. Khamzat has proven unreliable multiple times in the past. Strickland is usually active and has taken short notice fights. The UFC is rewarding him for such and holding Khamzat accountable in the process. He'll likely be next anyway.

 

[tritestill]

Sean won the first fight with DDP in many people's views. That's why Robert. Wonder if Robert is thinking about if he beat Khamzat and Sean got the shot lol.

 

[Ace70 V2]

I'd rather see Khamzat get the fight just so we can finally fucking see it. All the hype and potential, all the fucking sickness retirement shit. Let him fight before he really decided ro be done.

 

[JoeRowe]

Jealous because Strickland was able to beat down Adesanya while Rob got outclassed twice. Also got smoked by DDP whereas Strickland fought him to one of the closest decisions in recent memory.

Bad look for such a classy fighter as Rob. Maybe if he put up a halfway decent fight vs DDP instead of getting his ass whooped he could've gotten his own rematch.

 

[Morris88]

I'd rather see Khamzat get the fight just so we can finally fucking see it. All the hype and potential, all the fucking sickness retirement shit. Let him fight before he really decided ro be done.

Agree it does seem like a wasted opportunity. Hopefully he gets booked soon or I feel like he may just lose interest

 

[Oblivian]

Even if Strickland doesn't do anything different, it's very likely he could win the decision. Last fight could have gone either way.

 

[Fishmonger]

Sean won the first fight with DDP in many people's views.

 

[usernamee]

I'm just assuming they couldn't get Chimmy in there at the date and place that they were hoping for otherwise he would've been the guy

 

[JoeRowe]

I'd rather see Khamzat get the fight just so we can finally fucking see it. All the hype and potential, all the fucking sickness retirement shit. Let him fight before he really decided ro be done.

Sure but can he even get into Australia? Or America at the moment? Nobody knows what the true circumstances of the situation are. I doubt DDP wants to sit out until OCT of 2025 waiting on him

 

[Oscar Madison]

Sean won the first fight with DDP in many people's views. That's why Robert. Wonder if Robert is thinking about if he beat Khamzat and Sean got the shot lol.

And Sean took the next fight given to him against Costa -- he was not gifted this fight.

But I'd still rather watch Khamzat fight DDP next with Sean fighting the winner -- simply because I want to see the CLASH of violence between Khamat and DDP.

 

[FreddieRoachsVoice]

Sadly, the UFC usually caves and rewards those who sit out. As unreliable as Khamzat has been, he 100% deserves this fight more and likely would draw more money. I don't think Strickland/Covington are nearly the draws the UFC thinks despite all of their trash talk

 

[swizztony]

I'm just assuming they couldn't get Chimmy in there at the date and place that they were hoping for otherwise he would've been the guy

Chimaev literally said he’s waiting for the contract for that fight and he’s gonna be the guest fighter at the Australia event

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

i think DDP is going to smoke Strickland in the rematch

 

[pseto223]

It sounds like Strickland sat out for like a year or something - in reality he last fought in June. And it was his second fight for 2024. Strickland did very well against Du Plesis too and the fight ended in split decision, so why not? It's not like Sean was KOd cold and he is getting the title shot afterwards. Sure, a win over Costa is not worth a lot those days, but is still better than nothing (like getting an instant rematch after a loss).

Okay fight in my book, especially considering nobody can count on Khamzat the diva.

 

[Senzo Tanaka]

Dana pretty much admitted that they gave it to Sean as a favor because he's done stuff for them on short notice. Plus, Khamzat pretty much can't fight anywhere but Abu Dhabi currently. Make that of what you will.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

i think DDP is going to smoke Strickland in the rematch

yep strickland has one of those styles where it's probably confusing the 1st time you fight him because he's so flat footed and weird with his defense that most guys get frustrated and gas themselves out. DDP will probably make adjustments this time around regarding body shots, Cannonier beat strickland by going to the body since the head wasn't open, DDP could opt for a similar gameplan. It also doesn't help that DDP has no threat of being ko'd by sean

 

[RockyLockridge]

But in my opinion, I don't see the fight going any different. Not any different, Du Plessis is such a dog in there. He's gonna come
with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome now?

Whittaker Kinda sounding like a douchebag here lol.

Although I've NEVER considered myself a Whittaker fan, I've never bagged on him for being less than classy but there is a first time for everything.

But what I've highlighted here is maybe the first time He's ever sounded like a douche.

We the viewing public ALL know this fight came down to judging. Even if that fight when EXACTLY AS IT WENT on that night last January, Sean could be given the win. Just to kick a bit of dirt on Whittaker, this fight (strickland vs Du Plessi) was WAY closer than a fight I thought he lost (Vs Darren Till) and a fight HE thinks he won (Adesanya rematch). So he's sounding a bit delusional here.

Even if Strickland doesn't do anything different, it's very likely he could win the decision. Last fight could have gone either way.

My thoughts exactly

 

[burningspear]

Dana stuck to his guns because he didnt want to ruin his ' man of his word' image

 

[LEWIS540]

Khamzat 2 fights in last 2 years
Strickland 6 fights in last 2 years

Yeah, it's Strickland who's been inactive.