![Khamzat Chimaev (top) during his final sequence against Robert Whittaker (bottom) at UFC 308. [Images courtesy: Getty Images and @SStricklandMMA on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/6a82b-17299956204392-1920.jpg)
![Khamzat Chimaev (top) during his final sequence against Robert Whittaker (bottom) at UFC 308. [Images courtesy: Getty Images and @SStricklandMMA on X]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Earlier today at UFC 308, the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev made a triumphant return to the octagon with an impressive first-round submission over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
After taking his opponent's back, 'Borz' sank in a brutal face crank which seems to have fractured his opponent's mandible, leaving three of his bottom row teeth floating backward from the jaw.
Watch Khamzat Chimaev submit Robert Whittaker below:
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Chimaev's dominant win against 'The Reaper' has sent shockwaves through the MMA community, with UFC fighters flocking to X, noting their thoughts and opinions.
The Chechen-born fighter's impressive showing, however, doesn't seem to have impressed Conor McGregor. Reacting to the win, the Irishman wrote:
"Abysmal."
Surging lightweight contender Renato Moicano wrote:
"Chimaev is a Beast!!! One of the best wrestlers ever in the UFC!!! Next champ!!! I was dead wrong!!!"
Chimaev's win also appears to have rattled Sean Strickland, who now seems worried about potentially being leapfrogged to a title shot. He wrote:
"Understand one thing. I am next in line. It's been said, It's been written. January/February, me and Dricus du Plessis are scrapping. Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months. Wait, sorry UAE, you are not allowed in Chechnya. But hey, crypto scams while you wait."
Check out a few more responses below:
Chimaev has now extended his undefeated record to 14-0, with 12 finishes to his name. The win against Whittaker will put 'Borz' in the No.3 spot of the middleweight rankings. However, he is unlikely to get the next crack at the championship title.
Earlier this month during a post-fight press conference at 'Dana White's Contender Series', the UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Strickland as next in line for champion Dricus du Plessis.
That said, Chimaev might be the favorite to fight the winner of Strickland vs. du Plessis.
