Whittaker vs. Chimaev Prediction: UFC 308 Betting Odds

Winner of the interim UFC middleweight strap back in 2017, Whittaker looks to take a big step towards another title shot with his third win of 2024, highlighted by a stunning first-round KO victory over Ikram Aliskerov last June in Saudi Arabia. Currently pegged as the No. 13 contender in the UFC middleweight division, Chimaev has been idle since earning a majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman in his last octagon appearance at UFC 294, which also marked his first fight as a middleweight since 2020.

Chimaev leads the way on the UFC 308 odds as a -250 favourite. Whittaker lags as a +200 underdog, while the odds of this clash going a full five rounds are pegged at a lengthy +275.

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Robert Whittaker Odds

Rlobert Whittaker has established himself as a consistent knockout threat when he joined the UFC in 2012, finishing opponents in five of his first nine octagon appearances. However, the big prize has eluded the 33-year-old New Zealander, who fell to defeat in two previous bids for the undisputed UFC middleweight crown and suffered a second-round TKO loss to current champ Dricus du Plessis in a UFC middleweight title eliminator matchup at UFC 290. However, “The Reaper” showed flashes of his youthful form in his recent clash with Aliskerov. Whittaker needed just 109 seconds to end Aliskerov’s night by KO while also claiming his Performance of the Night bonus in seven years. 

Khamzat Chimaev Odds

Originally scheduled to face Whittaker back in June, Chimaev was forced to withdraw due to illness. That extends a layoff during which the controversial Russian made just one octagon appearance in 25 months after fighting five times over the previous two years. Currently sporting a perfect 13-0 pro MMA record, Chimaev has demonstrated his ability to win standing, one the mat, or going the distance, and has finished opponents in five of his seven UFC victories including dominating first-round victories over Kevin Holland, Li Jingliang, and Gerald Meerschaert. 

UFC 308 Prediction: Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev

The big question entering this fight is how much Chimaev’s recent lengthy layoff will impact his performance on Saturday. Chimaev had previously fought just once following a layoff longer than five months, recording a second-round submission win over John Phillips in both his middleweight and UFC debut. However, Whittaker represents a far more formidable opponent with plenty of experience going deep in lengthy clashes as needed. But it is tough to ignore Chimaev’s ability to dictate terms of engagement. 

Prediction:  Chimaev by decision or technical decision (+600)