Joe Rogan backs Khamzat Chimaev to get the next UFC middleweight title shot.
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) crushed former champion Robert Whittaker’s jaw for a first-round submission in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was originally tabbed by Dana White as champion Dricus Du Plessis’ next challenger, but after Chimaev’s dominant performance, Rogan was left in awe.
“Once he gets a hold of you, it’s so dangerous,” Rogan said during his Fight Companion podcast. “He gets a title shot, I think. … Not just that (beating Whittaker in the first round), but ran through him. He didn’t get touched. He ran through him and strangled him in the first round. He might be the guy. Think about this at 185: So this guy was killing himself to get to 170. At 185, he’s the f*cking man. That guy’s a scary ass motherf*cker – scary. That grappling is next level.”
After losing his title to Du Plessis by split decision at UFC 297, Strickland rebounded with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. He refuses to compete again unless it’s a title-fight rematch against Du Plessis.
However, Strickland’s title opportunity could be in danger. Du Plessis’ head coach, Morne Visser, posted on Instagram that they want Chimaev next on Feb. 8 at UFC 312 in Sydney.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
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