We have officially entered UFC 328 fight week, and all eyes are on the main event: a middleweight title fight between undefeated champ Khamzat Chimaev, and former champ Sean Strickland.
Ahead of time, Chimaev has been labelled as a substantial betting favorite by most sportsbooks, but there are many fans and pundits who believe Strickland has the right style to challenge the unbeaten champ.
Robert Whittaker is not one of them.
Whittaker is a former middleweight champ himself, and one of the best fighters in the division’s history. However, his 2024 fight with Chimaev ended in disaster, as he was taken down and tapped out inside a round.
Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri for UFC on Paramount ahead of this Saturday’s card, Whittaker was asked for a prediction for the Chimaev vs. Strickland main event. He did not beat around the bush.
Robert Whittaker backs Khamzat Chimaev to dominate Sean Strickland at UFC 328
Robert Whittaker believes Khamzat Chimaev is gonna “run over” Sean Strickland 😳
“Having been in there with Chimaev… gun to my head, Chimaev’s gonna run him over.”
(via @UFConParamount) pic.twitter.com/hBYNK9ZFKh
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 4, 2026
“Having been in there with Chimaev, having what seen what Chimaev can do once 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,” Whittaker said. ”
“Seeing that he has the cardio to be able to do that for five rounds as well, gun to my head, Chimaev’s going to run him over.”
Chimaev claimed the middleweight title last year with a decision defeat of Dricus Du Plessis, who beat Strickland twice. Strickland put himself back in title contention with a recent stoppage win over Anthony Hernandez.
Whittaker, meanwhile, has elected to leave the middleweight division, and is expected to make his light heavyweight debut at UFC 329 on July 11.
