Robert Whittaker eyes upset win at UFC 308 to set up world title shot in Sydney

He’s the big betting underdog this weekend, but Robert Whittaker’s team has one eye on a world title homecoming in Sydney.

Robert Whittaker is a heavy underdog with the bookmakers ahead of his UFC 308 fight with Khamzat Chimaev this weekend, but an upset win could set up a middleweight title blockbuster against Dricus du Plessis in one of the biggest fights ever held in Sydney.

As first reported by this masthead in September, Whittaker’s team has one eye on fighting for the title at UFC 312 in Sydney on February 9.

There are rumours du Plessis will defend his title in a rematch with controversial American Sean Strickland, but The Reaper can disrupt those plans.

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Even if this weekend’s assignment isn’t straight forward after the Aussie was installed as a big underdog.

He drifted out to as much as $3.10 late in the week, but an upset victory would give the UFC little choice but to ditch plans to have Strickland fight du Plessis.

“From what du Plessis’ coach says, he’s fighting in Sydney, so it depends on this weekend,” Whittaker’s manager Titus Day told this masthead in Abu Dhabi this week. “If Rob wins and he’s injury free, he gets the shot and I think Strickland gets overlooked.

“If Rob loses, I think Strickland probably gets the title shot.

“They need a really good main event, and Rob would be perfect for it.”

Sean Strickland (L) is rumoured to be fighting Dricus du Plessis (R) in Sydney. Picture: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Some of Whittaker’s biggest moments in the UFC have come on Australian soil, but the Sydneysider won’t be drawn into a discussion about fighting in his hometown until after this weekend.

“There’s nothing in the world that comes close to an Australian crowd cheering on an Australian fighter,” he told this masthead. “But I’ll worry about that later.

“My first concern is to smash Chimaev, then come home and kick the feet up for a little bit.”

Christmas could also change his plans.

Whittaker’s fight this weekend is his third of 2024, making it his busiest calendar year since 2014.

It also means he’s due a rest.

“If there’s a card that’s just after Christmas, it’s so-so,” he said of fighting in Sydney in February. “It’s 50-50.

“I’ve got Christmas and my family deserves a bit of time off. While I’m the one going through camps, they have to put up with me.

“I haven’t fought this much in a while, so they’ve had to put up with ‘Camp Rob’ for a fair bit, and ‘Camp Rob’s’ no fun.”

Robert Whittaker knocks out Ikram Alisterov. Picture: Getty Images

Whittaker fighting in a headline bout for the title in Sydney would be one of the biggest combat sport events ever held in the New South Wales capital, and could be an offer too good to refuse.

“If they offer you a title shot, you just fight,” Day said. “Unless you’ve got a bad injury, you’ll turn around tomorrow and fight. You don’t put it off.

“If Rob wins, his next fight will be for the title – I’d say that’s 99.9% certain – that’s the whisperings from the UFC.

“I’d love for Rob to fight for the title in Sydney, but it could be later. It might be that Strickland still gets the title fight with du Plessis, and Rob fights for it later.

“But I just know that if Rob wins, his next fight is for the title.”

First though, Whittaker must get past the fearsome Chechen wrestler Chimaev.

Despite only having had one fight at middleweight, and being forced out of their originally scheduled bout in June, Chimaev’s reputation sees him as a $1.38 favourite ahead of the five-round co-main event.

Khamzat Chimaev is the big betting favourite. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Whittaker is paying $3.10 with Ladbrokes.

In his decade-long UFC career, he has only been a bigger outsider twice, against Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza ($3.40) and in his rematch with Israel Adesanya ($3.65) in 2022.

“I’m expecting him to come out hard and aggressive from the first second until the last,” Whittaker said of Chimaev. “I have prepared accordingly for that.

“I’ve prepared for the hardest fight of my life. I’m prepared to sprint for the first five or 10 minutes, but also to drag it out.

“I’m ready for war.”

“I’m looking to go into this fight hunting him. I’m the hunter. I’m the predator and I’m going to be looking

Originally published as Robert Whittaker eyes upset win at UFC 308 to set up world title shot in Sydney