Robert Whittaker Warns Sean Strickland About Facing Khamzat Chimaev

Whittaker says Chimaev's grappling is on another level compared to Strickland's previous opponent.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker warned fellow fighter Sean Strickland that he is not ready to face Khamzat Chimaev. Whittaker, who has fought and lost to Chimaev, said the Chechen fighter's grappling and wrestling abilities are far superior to those of Strickland's recent opponent Anthony Hernandez. Whittaker reminded fans of Chimaev's dominant performance against Dricus Du Plessis, where he controlled the fight on the ground for nearly 20 minutes.

Why it matters

This warning from Whittaker is significant as Strickland has been calling out Chimaev and expressing confidence in his ability to defeat the top contender. Whittaker's firsthand experience against Chimaev provides valuable insight into the challenges Strickland would face if the two fighters were to meet in the Octagon.

The details

Whittaker told Submission Radio that Chimaev's grappling and wrestling skills are "night and day" compared to Hernandez's, and that "everyone who saw what Chimaev did to Dricus knows it's not the same." Whittaker faced Chimaev over a year ago, where the Chechen fighter finished him in the first round and broke his jaw with a face-crank submission. Despite Strickland's recent knockout win over Hernandez, Whittaker believes he is not ready to take on the dominant Chimaev.

  • Whittaker fought Chimaev over a year ago.
  • Chimaev dominated Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 last year in Chicago.

The players

Robert Whittaker

A former UFC middleweight champion who has fought and lost to Khamzat Chimaev.

Sean Strickland

A UFC middleweight fighter who has been calling out Khamzat Chimaev and expressing confidence in his ability to defeat him.

Khamzat Chimaev

A rising UFC middleweight contender known for his dominant wrestling and grappling skills.

Dricus Du Plessis

A UFC middleweight fighter who was dominated by Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago.

Anthony Hernandez

A UFC middleweight fighter who was recently knocked out by Sean Strickland.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, absolutely not there. Like, having been in there with Chimaev and Sean, and it's night and day, and everyone who saw what Chimaev did to Dricus knows it's not the same.”

— Robert Whittaker (Submission Radio)

“Habibi, come down. I destroyed the guy who beat you twice. American [expletive].”

— Khamzat Chimaev (Social media)

What’s next

The rivalry between Strickland and Chimaev continues to intensify, with both fighters appearing ready for a potential showdown in the Octagon.

The takeaway

Whittaker's warning to Strickland highlights the significant gap in grappling and wrestling abilities between Chimaev and Strickland's previous opponents. This insight from a veteran fighter who has faced Chimaev suggests that Strickland may not be ready to take on the dominant Chechen contender just yet.