Robert Whittaker is attracting significant online sympathy following his submission defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 on Saturday. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier shared a disturbing image showing Whittaker’s front teeth severely misaligned and bloodied.
Whittaker’s resilience was never in doubt; however, there was surprise over how quickly he submitted to Chimaev’s chin lock in the first round of their co-main event. The former UFC middleweight champion tapped frantically with both hands as Chimaev applied a rear-naked choke. UFC commentators speculated that Whittaker might have dislocated his jaw, a suggestion supported by Chimaev, who reported hearing a clicking sound during their bout. The injury turned out to be more serious than anticipated.
Cormier posted an image he received of Whittaker’s mouth, displaying the front three teeth askew and facing the wrong direction. The graphic photo has been widely circulated, with just two shares online resulting in over 500,000 views in less than an hour.
“I sensed something was wrong with his chin when I pushed it,” Chimaev said during the UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “I feel bad. I didn’t intend to break his chin, but it’s part of my job. If I cause someone pain, it brings me satisfaction.”
After becoming the first fighter to submit Whittaker in the UFC, Chimaev is now calling for a title shot in the UFC middleweight division. He improved his professional record to 14-0 by defeating two former UFC champions consecutively.