- What: UFC 308 Co-Main Event
- Who: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
- Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
- Location: Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Time: Early Prelims (TBA), Prelims (TBA), Pay-Per-View Card (2:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: Early Prelims (ESPN+) Prelims (ESPNews), Main Card (ESPN+ PPV)
The next UFC pay-per-view fight card, UFC 308, takes place on Saturday, October 26, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In the main event of the ESPN+ PPV card, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria defends his title against former champion Max Holloway. Before that, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker faces Khamzat Chimaev in a 185-pound contest. Here is some background on Whittaker and Chimaev before we look at the betting breakdown for the UFC 308 co-main event.
Robert Whittaker (26-7) is the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings. Whittaker is 3-2 in his past five fights, with his losses coming to then-UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and future titleholder Dricus du Plessis. He is riding a two-fight winning streak. Whittaker’s most recent win came against Ikram Aliskerov, who filled in for Chimaev, who was ill, in June.
Khamzat Chimaev (13-0) has fought at both welterweight and middleweight in the UFC. Chimaev is the No. 12 ranked UFC middleweight. He is coming off an October 2023 majority decision win over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who took the fight on short notice, replacing Paulo Costa.
Before we look at the best bets for Whittaker vs. Chimaev on the UFC 308 PPV card, check out the best UFC betting sites and where you can find our betting pick for the UFC 308 main event.
UFC 308 co-main event: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev betting picks
| Fighters |  |
 |
 |
| Robert Whittaker | +165 | +165 | +165 |
| Khamzat Chimaev | -190 | -195 | -195 |
Robert Whittaker betting breakdown
For a long while, Robert Whittaker was looked at as the best UFC middleweight or the second-best UFC middleweight. That perception took a hit after Dricus du Plessis knocked him out at UFC 290. However, that setback has aged well since Du Plessis now holds the UFC middleweight title. If Whittaker hopes to get another UFC middleweight title shot, he has to beat Chimaev at UFC 308.
Whittaker is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC’s 185-pound division. He is a dynamic striker with a high output. Whittaker also has a deep well of techniques at his disposal. He mixes up his targets well, mainly focusing his striking attacks on his opponent’s head and legs, and he can throw in takedowns when the mood suits him or when the fight warrants it. He also has good cardio and has participated in many five-round contests. If there is a knock against Whittaker it’s that he can get hit, however, he has a strong chin and can take damage.
Whittaker lands 4.58 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy of 43 percent. He gets hit 3.44 times per minute and has a defensive striking percentage of 59 percent. Whittaker lands 0.80 takedowns per 15 minutes, with a success rate of 38 percent. Whittaker’s takedown defense is at 82 percent.
Khamzat Chimaev betting breakdown
A member of the UFC roster since 2020, Khamzat Chimaev has been hyped as a future UFC champion since he went 3-0 that year with three stoppage wins. Two of those victories came at middleweight, while the other was a welterweight scrap. The 30-year-old is an incredibly skilled fighter who answered any questions about his toughness and ability to work through adversity by defeating Gilbert Burns by decision in 2022. He followed that with a submission win over Kevin Holland, then in 2023, Chimaev again went the three-round distance against Usman, who was on a two-fight losing skid and had never competed at middleweight before.
Chimaev relies a great deal on his wrestling skills, but he is getting better in the striking department with each fight he takes, showing comfort from either stance on the feet. His ground game is exceptional. Chimaev has incredible positional awareness on the mat, and he is comfortable and confident no matter where the fight takes place.
One weakness of Chimaev’s is how fast he starts his fights. He does not pace himself and he has faded when fights go long. Another area of concern when it comes to Chimaev is his health and fitness. He nearly retired in 2021 after a tough bout with COVID-19, and he has only fought once in the past two years.
Chimaev lands 5.72 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy of 58 percent. His striking defense is 42 percent, and he absorbs 3.46 significant strikes per minute. Chimaev earns 3.99 takedowns per 15 minutes with an accuracy of 46 percent. His takedown defense stands at 100 percent.
Best Bets: UFC 308 Co-Main Event – Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Chimaev will be a threat early at UFC 308, but if Whittaker can get past the first round, the former champ should be able to pick up the win through his fight IQ and well-rounded game.
For those who favor Chimaev, the betting pick should be for him to earn a stoppage in the first half of the fight.
My betting pick is for Whittaker to defeat Chimaev via decision.
See below the top offshore sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
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