Ariel Helwani shares prediction and breakdown for Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308: "Time is still on his side" 

Ariel Helwani, the prominent MMA journalist, recently shared his take on the upcoming Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev clash and predicted how the fight would play out.

The highly anticipated co-main event of UFC 308 is set to take place on Oct. 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

In a recent episode of The Boys in the Back - The Ariel Helwani Show on YouTube, Helwani, who usually avoids making predictions as a journalist, dissected how the fight would unfold. Having followed MMA for so long, he asserted that Whittaker will put on a masterclass, strongly believing that the fight will not go the full five rounds and that the ‘Reaper’ will finish it before then. Helwani said:

“Robert Whittaker is winning in decisive fashion on Saturday. Robert Whittaker is going to put on a masterclass. I feel it, I sense it. I believe it was Ben Davis who said the aura is gone, and I don't know what it is, but I think five rounds will be a mistake, and I think Robert Whittaker just appears to be switched on, as they say.

Helwani continued:

"He's out there sparring with Jai Opetaia. Do you think he's afraid of Khamzat Chimaev? This guy? You think he's afraid of Khamzat Chimaev? Now, all respect to Khamzat as a fighter—I think he's incredible. I don't think he has lived up to the expectations we all had for him, but you know, time is still on his side."

The famed MMA journalist concluded, saying:

“Robert Whittaker is switched on. He is not intimidated—half the battle when you're fighting Khamzat is the intimidation factor. Bobby Knuckles is ready, and I just feel something when I see him talk this week and when I see his demeanor.’

Check out Ariel Helwani’s comments below:

'The Reaper' was originally scheduled to fight 'Borz' in July this year, headlining the event, but Chimaev pulled out just a few weeks before the fight due to serious health issues. Whittaker then took on Ikram Aliskerov and knocked him out in the first round. Meanwhile, the Russian last entered the octagon in 2023 against Kamaru Usman and managed to secure victory.

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Ariel Helwani advises PFL executives not to make big claims about their promotion

Donn Davis, the founder of PFL, has been making huge claims about the promotion's growth. In a recent interview, Davis claimed that they are the co-leaders of MMA and have the same number of top fighters as the UFC, despite organizing half the number of events.

Reacting to this, Helwani in his show, The Ariel Helwani Show advised the executives that it would disappoint the fans if they keep making such big claims. He said:

“An investor will be impressed by that. MMA fans are not impressed by that because they know the truth. They know that it wasn't the best card of the year... Was it the best PFL card of the year? Absolutely. Was it the best MMA card of the year? Absolutely not.... They will call BS on that, and they will feel offended, and they will feel slighted... I still don't feel like PFL should be in the pay-per-view business... If they want to do one a year, fine. Multiple a year is crazy, in my opinion."

Check out Ariel Helwani’s comment below (3:22):