Robert Whittaker – Khamzat Chimaev Off, Then Back On As UFC 308 Co-Main Event Fight

Overnight, eagle-eyed fans noticed an anticipated UFC 308 title eliminator between former champion, Robert Whittaker and the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev was off as the slated co-main event in Abu Dhabi, UAE — before it was immediately redrafted as the night’s penultimate outing.

Whittaker, a former undisputed middleweight champion, most recently landed an impressive first round win over short-notice replacement, Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia — finishing the Russian with a stunning knockout victory in the promotion’s first outing in Riyadh.

As for Chechen-born challenger, Khamzat Chimaev, the unbeaten contender co-headlined UFC 294 back in October of last year against former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman in a controversial majority decision win in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

And booked once more in a rescheduled pairing following their failed June matchup, Whittaker and Chimaev were announced as the co-main event of UFC 308 at the end of October, before a headliner of undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, and symbolic BMF titleholder, Max Holloway.

Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev remains as UFC 308 co-main event fight in October

However, last night, fans speculated that Chimaev was out of his matchup with the Auckland-born ex-champion once more — with a heavyweight rematch between former interim champion, Ciryl Gane and Russian striker, Alexander Volkov drafted into a co-headlining clash.

Soon thereafter, after an apparent administrative error, the promotion confirmed that Whittaker’s title-eliminator against Chimaev was still on — with the bout remaining as the night’s current co-headliner.