UFC 308: Robert Whittaker submits in first round with gruesome injury before Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway

Robert Whittaker’s hopes of a title shot were ended inside a round at UFC 308. And a gruesome picture has revealed the extent of the damage. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES.

Alex Volkvanovski is in line for a world title rematch with Ilia Topuria after the Spanish knockout artist defended his belt with a brutal third round knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308.

In the co-main event in Abu Dhabi though, Aussie Robert Whittaker’s hopes of fighting for the middleweight title again took a major hit when he suffered a shock first round submission defeat to Khamzat Chimaev.

A win would have seen Whittaker make an undeniable argument for a rematch with champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in Sydney in February, but he was forced to tap out from a face crank 90 seconds into the first round.

A devastated Whittaker could only sit on the floor and shake his head in shock moments after the fastest loss of his UFC career.

The full extent of his injury was only revealed after the Sydneysider was taken straight to hospital with a mouthful of blood.

UFC president Dana White said Whittaker’s “jaw popped. It split and his teeth got all messed up” but this masthead can confirm that it was only an issue with several of the teeth in the bottom of his mouth.

“His jaw is fine,” Whittaker’s manager, Titus Day told this masthead. “It was a teeth issue and nothing to do with his jaw.”

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW

Whittaker will fly home to Australia as scheduled.

Despite setting up a featherweight title rematch with Topuria, it’s also unclear whether Volkanovski will fight in Sydney either.

While the Wollongong local is hopeful of fighting in his hometown, his team is already preparing for the likelihood of facing Topuria in the UFC’s planned debut in Spain later in 2015.

“Sydney, Australia would be a perfect world,” said Volkanovski, who watched from the front row, and congratulated Topuria in the cage afterwards.

“Everybody knows what’s next, it’s just where is it? He’s in a position now where if they can do Madrid or something, that’s fair.

“Let the UFC see what they want to do, and see what Ilia wants to do, but if they can’t do it any time soon, let’s do Sydney.”

Topuria confirmed he wants to defend the belt against Volkanovski, but said fighting in Sydney in February is unlikely.

Robert Whittaker's mouth after his fight against Khamzat Chimaev. Picture: Supplied

“There’s no one else that deserves a shot more than Volk,” he said moments after becoming the first person to ever knock out Holloway. “He’s been a great champion, he’s a legend in the featherweight division.

“He deserves a shot without any doubt.

“But, at the same time, I’m going to take a small break.

“I’m 27, I don’t have any hurry. I’m 27, a world champion, I’ve just defended my belt. I want to go step by step.”

UFC president Dana White said he will make a rematch between Topuria and Volkanovski after the Aussie’s history of taking short-notice fights.

“Volkanovski’s one of those guys, we’re not gonna say no to Volkanovski,” White said.

“He’s been that guy for us any time we needed him. He was on this run, when things don’t go our way and you’ve gotta call a guy, Volkanovski’s always been that guy.

“Who wouldn’t want to see it again?”

White is actively scouting locations for the promotion’s first ever event in Spain, and Topuria desperately wants to headline at the Santiago Bernabeu – the home ground of his beloved Real Madrid.

White prefers to host events indoors, but would consider making an exception due to Topuria’s star power and the vast interest in a rematch with Volkanovski.

“We have to get it done, we have to figure it out,” White said of organising a fight card in Spain. “I hate going to soccer stadiums, I like arenas better, but if that’s what we have to do, that’s we have to do.

“We need to get to Spain.

“All the arenas were booked up and we’re trying to figure it out, but if we have to go to a stadium, we will.”

Re-live all the action from UFC 308 in our live blog below!

Originally published as UFC 308: Robert Whittaker submits in first round with gruesome injury before Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway