Daniel Cormier TV - DC THROWBACK: Robert Whittaker on fighting Khamzat Chimaev

Summary

Podcast Summary: "DC THROWBACK: Robert Whittaker on Fighting Khamzat Chimaev"

Episode: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Release Date: July 27, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Robert Whittaker, UFC Middleweight Fighter

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Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd sits down with UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker to discuss his journey in the octagon, recent victories, and his upcoming highly anticipated fight against Khamzat Chimaev. The conversation delves deep into Whittaker's strategies, mindset, and his perspective on the evolving landscape of the UFC middleweight division.

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Reflecting on Recent Victories

The discussion begins with Cowherd congratulating Whittaker on his impressive performance against Alaska Off. Whittaker shares his thoughts on the fight and his preparation leading up to it.

Cowherd (04:18): "You're back again, and you just keep getting better and work towards your goal."

Whittaker (04:50): "Not the expectation. The hope. Yes."

Whittaker emphasizes that while the expectation was to endure a grueling 25-minute battle, his confidence in his training allowed him to surpass those expectations, securing a decisive victory.

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Strategic Fighting and Patience in the Octagon

Cowherd and Whittaker discuss the importance of patience and strategic striking in fights. Whittaker highlights his approach of not rushing after landing significant punches, contrasting it with the tendencies of younger fighters.

Cowherd (05:04): "You took your time and you found the uppercut that got him."

Whittaker (05:25): "The idea is to hurt them and not let them recover."

This strategic patience allows Whittaker to capitalize on critical moments, ensuring that his opponents do not regain their composure before he delivers the finishing blow.

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Upcoming Fight Against Khamzat Chimaev

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Whittaker's upcoming bout with Khamzat Chimaev. Cowherd probes into Whittaker's preparation, his analysis of Chimaev's fighting style, and what he expects from the upcoming match.

Whittaker (06:06): "This is what I do. This is my duty to my family."

Whittaker discusses his rigorous 20-week training regimen tailored specifically for Chimaev, acknowledging Chimaev's respect for his wrestling skills.

Cowherd (06:44): "What did you see in him in that fight, opposed to what you saw prior?"

Whittaker (06:55): "I think you need to respect his skill level."

Despite recognizing Chimaev's prowess, Whittaker remains confident in his abilities, asserting his readiness to take on the challenge head-on.

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Navigating the Title Picture and Contention

The conversation shifts to the broader UFC middleweight division, particularly addressing the title contention and the positioning of fighters like Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.

Cowherd (09:48): "Do you think that if you win this weekend, you get a title fight?"

Whittaker (09:49): "Definitely."

Whittaker expresses his belief that securing a victory against Chimaev would solidify his claim to a title shot, despite the current rankings and the rise of other contenders.

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Training, Wrestling, and Mental Fortitude

Whittaker delves into his training regimen, particularly his focus on wrestling, which he credits for enhancing both his physical strength and mental resilience.

Whittaker (08:11): "What I enjoy? It makes me strong."

His dedication to wrestling not only improves his grappling skills but also fortifies his mental toughness, preparing him to endure and dominate in high-stakes fights.

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Anticipation for the Fight and Final Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, both Cowherd and Whittaker express their excitement and anticipation for the upcoming fight. Whittaker is determined to "hunt" Chimaev throughout the match, aiming to secure a definitive victory within the five-round timeframe.

Whittaker (11:42): "I'm looking to take his head off. Got five rounds to do it."

Whittaker remains focused on his strategy and is eager to test his skills against one of the UFC's formidable opponents, emphasizing his readiness to face any challenge that comes his way.

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Conclusion

This episode provides an in-depth look into Robert Whittaker's mindset, preparation, and strategies as he gears up for what promises to be a landmark fight against Khamzat Chimaev. Colin Cowherd's insightful questions and Whittaker's candid responses offer fans a comprehensive understanding of the champion's approach to maintaining his title and navigating the competitive UFC middleweight division.

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Notable Quotes:

• Whittaker (04:50): "Not the expectation. The hope. Yes."
• Cowherd (05:04): "You took your time and you found the uppercut that got him."
• Whittaker (06:06): "This is what I do. This is my duty to my family."
• Whittaker (08:11): "What I enjoy? It makes me strong."
• Whittaker (11:42): "I'm looking to take his head off. Got five rounds to do it."

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and enthusiasts alike.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Host]

Robert Whitaker. Thanks for checking in with me again, champ. We're back again. And you just literally keep getting better and keep working towards his goal. That last fight against Alaska, off, I remember we sat down. Remember I did the interview on my iPad because I didn't have a camera. And you told me that you thought you had figured out a way to get through this dude. I'm like, well, he's this, this and the other. You beat him easier than anyone could have imagined. Like, was that the expectation of the fight going in?

[Robert Whitaker]

Not the expectation. The hope. Yes.

[Host]

The hope. Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

Not the expectation. The expectation was to grind it out for 25 minutes.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

You know, to have wars. That's what we train for and prepare for. But mate, like, I. It's just confidence in the work that I'm putting in.

[Host]

Yeah, you hit him with that nice shot. He went when he went real. And you, your eyes Got big. But you didn't rush though. That's the one thing that young fighters don't get right. They get somebody hurt and they just go crazy. You took your time and you found it wasn't. It was an uppercut, right? Yeah, that got him. Yeah, you found the uppercut that got him. When you saw him hurt, you're like, okay, take my time. Let me find the shot.

[Robert Whitaker]

Yeah. The idea is to hurt them and not let them recover, right?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

And then like, you'll find your moment.

[Host]

I always tell people, I said, it's not the first one though. The first one hurts you. It's the follow up shot that gets you, right? The one that comes after. And it was like, you heard him and then when you went, you got boom. I was like, oh my God, Robert Whitaker. That shit was crazy.

[Robert Whitaker]

No, it was good.

[Host]

It's kind of crazy how you. You managed to do it over and over again, but you never released the thought that you'd be the champion. Even after Drake is du Plessis, you just right back to work. Now you're fighting Khamzat Chimaev. Like me and your pops were talking outside. He goes, he's due for an easy one. I go, they don't get no easier ones. They get no easier because they beat Chimaev. Now you're fighting for the belt again.

[Robert Whitaker]

Yeah, this is what I do. This is what I sign up for. This is my duty to my family. This is how I put bread on the table. And I take that role very responsibly.

[Host]

So when you look at Chimaev, right, he was going through these dudes like crazy, right. He gets to Usman, though, and it was much more difficult because now, right, no disrespect to Lee, no disrespect to these, these, these first dudes he should have beat like that on Fight island, right? Because they're just not very good. Mayor Chart, he knocked him out. I was a bit surprised. When he gets to Usman, right? World class fighter, what did you see in him in that fight, opposed to what you saw prior?

[Robert Whitaker]

I think it's just. What did I see?

[Host]

Good things that impressed you or things that you might have went, okay, well.

[Robert Whitaker]

I think, I think the first thing is like, you need to respect his skill level. Like he's pushing a game plan on a world class fighter, on a former champion level fighter attacking the same way. That deserves respect. Like, everyone knows he was gonna wrestle. He still did it. Yeah, that deserves respect, and I respect it. And that's why I've trained my heart out for the last 20 weeks, but also saw that Usman, on a week's notice, started catching up.

[Host]

Yes, he did.

[Robert Whitaker]

In the third round, he started catching up. And you got five rounds and I got five rounds. And I think I'm better than Usman.

[Host]

Yeah, bigger for sure. Remember, Usman's still fighting at welterweight. You're middleweight now.

[Robert Whitaker]

I've had 20 weeks to prepare for this guy.

[Host]

Yeah. Had time to get ready.

[Robert Whitaker]

Yeah.

[Host]

So is it a matter of extending the fight, though? Is it like, can you go through him early or do you have to make him fight longer? Because again, in the first round of that fight, he was still held on wheels for even Kamaru Usman.

[Robert Whitaker]

I'm gonna come at him from the first, second to the last. I'm taking the fight to him the entire time. That's how I win.

[Host]

Yeah, you've been training a lot of wrestling in preparation for this. I saw a video of you getting after it. How. How have you enjoyed being back on that type of grind, knowing what type of fight you had in front of you?

[Robert Whitaker]

My back is sore, dude.

[Host]

Raquel Pennington told me that she goes, I hate wrestling. My back and my neck are so sore from doing so much wrestling. Like. But did you enjoy it getting back to that?

[Robert Whitaker]

You know what I enjoy? It makes me strong.

[Host]

Yeah, I feel strong here, too.

[Robert Whitaker]

Always. Yeah. Like, I feel strong. And then, like, when you're in those deep rounds, you know, you're just like, I'm going to kill you. Like. Yeah, it brings something out of you.

[Host]

It does. Like, it makes you stronger mentally. Because if you can get through that wrestling workout like that, especially consistently, you know that you can get through a fight. Chimaev says he does respect you. Right. And he's been saying it publicly, but he doesn't believe that even though you're doing this and you've done this for a really long time to the point that you put a singlet on and when wrestle actual tournaments, he just does not feel like you can compete with him in that way. He's gonna be able to implement that game plan on you, like, to that. What do you say?

[Robert Whitaker]

We'll find out.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

All right. Like, this is a fight. Yeah, we'll find out. Yeah, I've done everything. If he's that good, then I'll find out.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

Like, I'm gonna find out. And I'm excited for the test. I'm excited to put myself up against someone that believes that, because I've beaten a lot of people that think they were better than me, you know? And, yeah, like, every fight, every hardship, every trial makes me better. And I. This is just another one.

[Host]

So I believe this is me. This is me. I believe that if you win this weekend, you should get a title fight. Do you think that if you win this weekend, you get a title fight?

[Robert Whitaker]

Definitely.

[Host]

But why. Why is it that Sean Strickland has been determined the number one contender when he beat a guy that you beat, and then you went and fought two more times? So how do you make the statement that you deserve the shot over him?

[Robert Whitaker]

I don't. I just. I don't really worry about it. Like.

[Host]

Like, it's. It just. To me, it doesn't seem logical.

[Robert Whitaker]

Yeah, but you see, that's, like, a whole side of fighting that I don't really take notice of.

[Host]

Really?

[Robert Whitaker]

Well, no, because it's. It's. For, one, I don't have a lot of control over it. And two, I don't want to play those games to get. It's like politics almost. It really is, and I don't want to play it.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

I'm just gonna do my job. I'm gonna go out there, I'm keep fighting. I'm gonna fight. Winning opens the doors.

[Host]

But again, three wins. Paulo Costa, you beat. That was a tough fight, Oscar. If you beat. If you beat Khamzat Chimaev, it would seem as though it's the logical next step. You and Dricus Du Plessis have history. He just beat Israel Adesanya. Were you surprised? Because, I mean, a lot of times, dude, I'm telling you, bro, like, I finally am done overlooking this guy. Yeah, it's some of the shit he does that makes me want to wears those. There's a picture of him with these, like, Daisy Duke shorts on. He's sitting on the back of a truck. This dude's crazy dog. Drake is. But he's a good fighter. He beat Izzy. Submitted Izzy. Were you surprised that he was able to do that? Nah. Really?

[Robert Whitaker]

Well, Drew is one of those dudes that, like, I just feel like he's gonna win somehow.

[Host]

He does, though. He does.

[Robert Whitaker]

If you don't get him out of there somehow, he's gonna win. And that's the vibe I got. Like, I think that was the best version of Israel we've seen.

[Host]

I thought Izzy looked pretty good, too.

[Robert Whitaker]

He looked great. I just think, like, Dricus makes it awkward, man. And he just keeps coming at you.

[Host]

Do you think that if you fight him again, though, you would benefit from being in there before. Definitely. Having a feel.

[Robert Whitaker]

Definitely.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

Yeah.

[Host]

But it's Hamza Maeve this weekend.

[Robert Whitaker]

Definitely.

[Host]

How do you see the fight going?

[Robert Whitaker]

I'm going to look to hunt him for the 25 minutes. I'm looking to take his head off.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Robert Whitaker]

Got five rounds to do it.

[Host]

This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. When you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

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