ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 26: New Zealand’s Robert Whittaker reacts after … [+]
Robert Whittaker was no match for Khamzat Chimaev in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main event, but he’s still one of the toughest human beings on Earth.
Less than 24 hours after suffering a nasty mouth injury that many believed was a broken jaw, the former UFC middleweight champion gave a remarkably level-headed and entertaining interview with Red Corner MMA where he provided an update.
The injury was to Whittaker’s teeth, not his jaw.
Whittaker added this post to his Instagram account also.
“Thank you all for all the love and support. It’s a tough gig sometimes but that’s what it’s all about. Big congrats to Khamzat, he was the best man tonight and that’s all there is. It felt great, everything was on point me too My jaw is fine but my teeth have moved thanks to my team and everyone who has supported me to get here.
In case you missed it, here’s the finish from Chimaev that caused the injury.
Whittaker’s willingness and ability to give this interview was amazing. Whittaker is already confident he won’t hang up the gloves. He will continue, but one has to wonder what his ceiling is now.
He’ll be 34 in December, but it’s hard to imagine a world where he can beat Chimaev. Whittaker has already lost to reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis, so it’s hard to imagine his path back to a title shot. He tends to be the cheat check guy for fighters looking to break into the Top 5 in the middleweight division.
We will see how long he will be out of action and what kind of fight he will give on his return. Here’s a look at all the results from UFC 308
- (c) Ilias Topuria no. Max Holloway – UFC Featherweight Championship via TKO in the third round
- Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker via first round submission (face crank)
- Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakic by unanimous decision 29-28×3
- Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige by unanimous decision 29-28×3
- Shara Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan via KO in the second round
- Ibo Aslan or. Raffael Cerqueira via KO in the first round
- Jeff Neal op. Rafael dos Anjos via TKO in the first round
- Mateusz Rebecki def. Myktybek Orolbai by split decision 29-28×2, 28-29.
- Abus Magomedov or. Brunno Ferreira via third-round submission (arm-triangle choke)
- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett TKO in the first round
- Farid Basarat op. Victor Hugo via. unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28×2
- Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal by unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28×2
- Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva 30-27X3
