Rob Whittaker eyes up Sydney world title fight if he beats Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308

Rob Whittaker has his eyes on a middleweight title fight in Sydney next year, and got in some high-level sparring against Jai Opetaia on Friday.

A win over Khamzat Chimaev next month will make Rob Whittaker’s case for a middleweight world title fight against Dricus du Plessis “undeniable,” with a rematch between the pair possible for Sydney in February.

On Friday morning, Whittaker kicked up preparations for his UFC 308 grudge match against Chimaev with four hard sparring rounds opposite IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia.

Opetaia defends his crown against Englishman Jack Massey in Saudi Arabia on October 12.

One of the best boxers on the planet, Opetaia confirmed Whittaker’s “awkward” style, and was happy to get a different look as he approached the middle stages of a brutal training camp.

Whittaker and Opetaia both have big fights coming up in October. Picture: Brendan Bradford

“He’s a humble dude, but he knows how to crack,” Opetaia said of Whittaker. “If you get lazy, he’s gonna get you, so it’s about adapting to new styles and getting the work in.”

Speaking to this masthead after the session, Whittaker staked his claim for a rematch with du Plessis after the South African stopped him in the second round in 2023.

“I know I get the next title shot,” Whittaker said. “If I beat Chimaev, I’m fighting for the belt after.”

The UFC is rumoured to be returning to Sydney in February 2025, and Whittaker hasn’t fought in his hometown in more than a decade.

‘The Reaper’ said a fight in the Harbour City makes sense, but only if the belt is on the line.

“Hopefully it works out that way, although I do like Christmas,” he joked. “But it’s gotta be a title fight.”

. @robwhittakermma and @jaiopetaia1 warming up for sparring this morning. #UFC#boxing@[e-mail]/bavGltbJIE

— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) September 6, 2024

UFC boss Dana White hinted that former middleweight world champion Sean Strickland would be next in line for du Plessis, but Whittaker’s manager, Titus Day, is confident his fighter will jump ahead with a win over Chimaev.

“If Rob beats Khamzat, it’s undeniable – he’s gonna get the shot,” Day told this masthead. “It’s a fast turnaround, but for the belt, we’ll do it.

“Dricus has fought in Australia, and there’s plenty of South Africans here. Whether he’d come to Rob’s own backyard, I don’t know, but if the UFC gives him that option, we hope it will happen.

“He has a lot of respect for Rob. He believes he deserves a shot, and he looked up to Rob when he was coming up in his career.”

Whittaker calls Chimaev the “boogeyman” of the middleweight division. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Whittaker was originally scheduled to fight Chimaev earlier this year, but the Dagestani phenom pulled out through illness.

Now, with another full camp and some high level sparring with Opetaia under his belt, Whittaker says he’s gone to another level.

“I’m a big believer that iron sharpens iron and Jai’s really good,” he said after Friday’s session. “There’s no one in my division with hands as good as his.

“This session only makes me better and I’m blessed to be able to box with one of the best boxers in the world.

“I spent a whole camp preparing for Khamzat last time, so now I feel like I’m ahead of the curve. He’s put himself at a disadvantage because now I’m a whole fight camp better, so good luck to him.

“He wouldn’t have beaten me last time, he’s not gonna beat me this time.”

Opetaia is a man on a mission. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Opetaia revealed his insane training schedule ahead of another world title fight in Saudi Arabia.

Based on the Gold Coast, Opetaia woke at 4am to fly to Sydney to spar Whittaker, and will get in another session after returning to Queensland.

“We’re here to get in the trenches,” he told this masthead. “We had three big sessions yesterday, and we’re doing 18 sessions a week.

“I’m just grinding, grinding, grinding every day. This is about pumping the work out and getting uncomfortable, so that when we’re clean, when we’re sharp, it’s easy, bro.”

Opetaia’s opponent, the 22-2 Massey, has only ever lost to former world champions, including Joseph Parker and Richard Riakporhe, and Opetaia is expecting a tough fight.

“I feel like we’re gonna get a different version of him,” he said. “This is his chance to become a world champion.

“I bring out the best version of everyone, because they know I don’t f**k around and I’m not an easy fight.

“When they’re training, when they’re preparing, they know I’m the best so they pick it up.

“That’s why I’m training for someone like me. I’m training for someone who wants it as bad as I do.”

Originally published as Rob Whittaker eyes up Sydney world title fight if he beats Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308