Dricus du Plessis sends Robert Whittaker a message after latter's UFC 308 loss to Khamzat Chimaev

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis offered reassuring words to Robert Whittaker following his tough submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. Whittaker endured only the second submission loss in his 34-fight professional career this past weekend in the co-main event clash against 'Borz'.

At UFC 308, Chimaev showcased his elite grappling skills and seized control early in the bout. He shot for a quick takedown, taking Whittaker’s back and limiting his ability to counter. Though Whittaker briefly broke free, Chimaev’s relentless pursuit culminated in a swift face crank that secured the submission and broke Whittaker's jaw in the process.

After the bout, Whittaker shared his thoughts in an Instagram post, expressing gratitude for the outpour of support from fans. He acknowledged Chimaev’s impressive performance and revealed that while his jaw was injured, he welcomed the opportunity to address his persistent dental issues. Despite his second loss in the last five outings, Whittaker asserted that he's committed to returning stronger from the setback.

Check out Robert Whittaker's statement below:

In response, Du Plessis, who handed Whittaker a TKO loss at UFC 290, called his former opponent a warrior and an inspiring figure. The South African dropped a comment on Whittaker's Instagram post wishing him a swift recovery:

"You’re an absolute warrior and someone to look up to brother. You’ll be back speedy recovery."

Check out Dricus du Plessis' comment below:

Dricus du Plessis offers encouraging words to Robert Whittaker after loss at UFC 308. [Images courtesy: @robwhittakermma on Instagram]

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Daniel Cormier reflects on Robert Whittaker's broken jaw and Khamzat Chimaev’s dominance at UFC 308

Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant submission victory against Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, according to several fans, has sealed his claim to fight for the middleweight championship next. Former UFC two-division champion Daniel Cormier was impressed by Chimaev's ability to handle a seasoned opponent like Whittaker with ease.

Cormier highlighted the implications of this victory for the middleweight landscape, particularly for current top contender Sean Strickland. With UFC CEO Dana White taking an immediate interest in Chimaev’s future, this outcome reinforces the UAE star as a serious threat in the 185-pound division.

Speaking about Chimaev's win on his YouTube channel, Cormier said:

"[Chimaev] took [Whittaker] down, choked him, and broke his jaw. Broke his jaw with a squeeze from a rear naked choke. It was nuts to see him do that to a guy that once again was [one of the guys] in the generation before him... If you're Sean Strickland, that result worries you because Mick Maynard sitting right next to me jumps up runs to Dana [White] and they start talking to Hunter [Campbell]. Then Dana immediately runs over to Chimaev and talks to him. That's scary to a guy that's considered the No.1 contender."

Check out Daniel Cormier's comments below (5:20):