Khamzat Chimaev's UFC 308 win makes fans grateful about Nate Diaz cancelation: "This was sanctioned murder", "MMA Gods saved the day"

Khamzat Chimaev stunned fans with an overwhelming performance at UFC 308 as he dominated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi. The match which was anticipated to be closely contested, turned into a one-sided bout as Chimaev unleashed relentless pressure and secured a submission in the first round.

The fight began with both fighters testing their range, but Chimaev quickly closed in, targeting Whittaker’s legs and forcing him to defend a flurry of grappling moves. At the 3:34 mark in the first round, Chimaev locked in a face crank, compelling Whittaker to tap out due to the intense pressure.

Chimaev’s intense style and aggressive approach left fans speculating about what could have happened if he had faced Nate Diaz at UFC 279. Many fans on social media suggested the bout cancelation saved Diaz from a potentially disastrous outcome.

One fan wrote:

"The MMA Gods saved the day"

Chimaev had missed weight by 7.5 pounds for that scheduled fight, leading to a reshuffle in opponents, and instead of Diaz, he faced and defeated Kevin Holland via D'Arce choke in the first round.

Another fan wrote:

"Everyone knew Dana wanted Nate killed"

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

Fans react to the outcome of a potential fight between Khanzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz. [Screenshot courtesy: X]

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Khamzat Chimaev weighs in on a potential fight with Dricus du Plessis for championship gold

After a commanding performance at UFC 308, Khamzat Chimaev has voiced his confidence in defeating UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis if given a title shot.

With UFC CEO Dana White hinting that du Plessis might face Sean Strickland next, Chimaev remains optimistic he could step in, ready for a shot at the gold:

“It doesn’t matter Sean or Dricus, just going for the gold, So we’ll see what happens next. I’m ready.”

Asked about du Plessis’ grappling skills, Chimaev dismissed the challenge, referencing the reigning champ's performance against Robert Whittaker, whom Chimaev dominated. He said:

“How I did with this guy, Rob, and how he done? Rob took him down, so if Rob took him down, there is salam alaikum [against me].”[H/t: MMA Junkie]

Check out Khamzat Chimaev's post-fight presser below: