Robert Whittaker doesn’t see Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 playing out differently from the first fight and believes Khamzat Chimaev could beat them both.
Same outcome
Speaking on his MMArcade podcast, “The Reaper” got honest about how he thinks the UFC 312 main event will go down. Whittaker expects minimal to zero difference with Du Plessis possibly outpointing Strickland once again.
Robert Whittaker believes Dricus du Plessis will defeat Strickland again.
— Verdict (@VerdictMMA) December 9, 2024
“What could Sean Strickland do to change the outcome this time?”
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“In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different,” Whittaker said. “Du Plessis is such a dog in there. He’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time? Because, if we look at it, doesn’t happen often, but the challenger beats the champion by decision. Du Plessis did that, now he’s the champion and that was a close first fight. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening.”
Khamzat Chimaev can dominate both Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland
Regardless of the outcome of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, Khamzat Chimaev is very likely to be the next in line. For Whittaker, “Borz” will have his way against either “Stillknocks” or “Tarzan,” especially on the ground.
“I think he just takes them down and does the same thing, like not necessarily to me but how he beat [Kamaru] Usman or how he beat Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker said of Khamzat Chimaev. “I can see those sort of fights.”
“I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis just because Du Plessis is like a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?,” he added.