Khamzat Chimaev a “terrible fight” for Colby Covington, says Robert Whittaker
Welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is a “terrible fight” for top-ranked Colby Covington, says former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
UFC president Dana White recently suggested that the world’s leading promotion is open to booking Chimaev vs. Covington, potentially as the co-main event of the Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 card next year. On paper, it’s a fight that makes a lot of sense between two of the best welterweights in the world. However, if you ask Whittaker, this would not be a good stylistic matchup for Covington.
Speaking to Submission Radio, Whittaker explained why he believes Chimaev would be a bad fight for Covington to take.
“Stylistically, fight-wise, I think that’s a terrible fight for Colby. Terrible. Because you saw with Usman that anyone Colby can’t just relentlessly spam takedowns on, it becomes a kickboxing fight and a striking match. And I think Covington’s great at what he does, but he’s not a kickboxer, he’s not a striker by trade. That doesn’t come naturally to him,” Whittaker said (via MMAjunkie.com). “His pressure style and wrestling style is what comes naturally to him. Khamzat can counter-wrestle Colby. He’s a big dude with long range and a lot of reach, and his striking is nothing ridiculously crazy, but it’s put together at a high level. And he integrates that with the threat of his wrestling and grappling takedowns stupendously. So, I think Khamzat for Colby is a bad matchup.”
It will be interesting to see how this fight plays out if the UFC does in fact book this matchup. However, before the fight even takes place, Chimaev has to make weight, and after missing weight at UFC 279, it will be important for him to actually make welterweight before he steps into the cage with Covington.
Do you agree with Robert Whittaker that Khamzat Chimaev is a “terrible fight” for Colby Covington?
