UFC 308: Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev Odds, Picks & Predictions

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev is the UFC 308 co-main event and a bout that carries heavy implications at middleweight.

Chimaev has long been considered the next big thing in the UFC, and he’s up in the biggest test of his career against a surging Whittaker who has his eyes on another title shot.

UFC odds have Chimaev as a -245 favorite, and Whittaker is a +200 underdog. 

Here are my best free UFC 308: Whittaker vs. Chimaev predictions from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Whittaker vs Chimaev prediction and pick

• My fight prediction
  Whittaker ML (+200 at BET99)
  
  
• My best bet
   Whittaker by decision (+725 at BET99)

Fight analysis

Robert Whittaker's only losses over the last 10 years have come against Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, and he has beaten everyone else, maintaining his position as no worse than the No. 3 fighter at middleweight. This year alone, Whittaker has dominated both Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov in one-sided fashion.

Now, he faces another top-tier opponent in Khamzat Chimaev, a fighter surrounded by question marks. Whittaker continues to demonstrate high-level skills against strong opponents and remains hungry for another title shot. With a win here, he won’t continue to be overlooked.

Chimaev is undoubtedly a phenomenal talent, and the hype surrounding him has many believing he's a savage striker, a suffocating wrestler, and a pure finisher, with five of his seven UFC wins coming inside the distance. However, there are plenty of reasons to doubt his chances against Whittaker.

Outside the octagon, Chimaev is frequently sidelined due to illness or injury. Earlier this year, he went the distance against an aged and undersized Kamaru Usman, where he ran out of gas and struggled to keep Usman at bay late in the fight. Two fights ago, he was in an all-out war with Gilbert Burns at welterweight and also struggled to close the fight, which won’t bode well for him in a five-round contest.

Chimaev is a monster right out of the gate, and an effective early blitz is something Whittaker could fall victim to, as he did in the Du Plessis fight and nearly did against Costa in the first round.

However, the longer the fight goes, and the more Whittaker’s craftiness comes into play, the smaller Chimaev's window of opportunity becomes. The inactivity due to injuries and illnesses has already shown its effects, and this is something a skilled former champion like Whittaker can exploit.

If Whittaker's takedown defense holds up early, he should be able to drag the fight into the later rounds, where Chimaev will find himself in uncharted waters. Depending on how successful Chimaev is early on, Whittaker may have to mount a comeback, but I’m going to trust the former champ’s experience and cardio and pick Whittaker in an upset.

Best best analysis

I predict that Whittaker will win by decision. By neutralizing Chimaev's early aggression and capitalizing on his superior striking as the fight progresses, Whittaker can take advantage of Chimaev's diminished stamina in the later rounds.

Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev odds

Method of Victory	Whittaker	Chimaev
To win outright	+185	-233
To win by KO/TKO	+335	+165
To win by decision	+700	+675
To win by submission	+2500	+250
Draw	+2500	+2500

Odds as of 10-26

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Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev tale of the tape

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