Robert Whittaker on fighting Khamzat Chimaev: 'I'm in a great headspace to take another hard fight'

Robert Whittaker is excited to test the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev.

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) meets Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a five-round headliner June 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card will air on ABC.

The former champion initially told MMA Junkie that a fight with Chimaev would just be for clout, but after UFC CEO Dana White announced it will be a No. 1 contender matchup, Whittaker appears to have changed his tune. Whittaker is fresh off an impressive performance over Paulo Costa at UFC 298.

“I do understand the task at hand,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast. “It’s going to be hard, and I’m going to be grinding my ass off this camp. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a good thing that after last fight, I didn’t have any injuries.

“The body’s good. They offered me the fight. I fought four (or) five weeks ago at this point. I’m ready. Just give me another one. I’m in a great headspace to take another hard fight. I’m looking forward to it. Every hard fight pushes my skills to that next level, and this gets me in line to get the belt back – and that’s the goal.”

Whittaker knows the kind of challenge Chimaev brings. Chimaev most recently beat Kamaru Usman this past October at UFC 294. He was able to outgrapple the former welterweight champion with ease in Round 1.

“He’s a hard fighter. He likes to grapple a lot. He uses his reach and range to good effectiveness. He’s got good knockout power,” Whittaker said. “He likes to play the villain against his opponents, but he’s an honorable fighter.

“We’re going to get in there and we’re going to have an honest fight. We’re both going to leave it in there. He’s not a quitter, I’m not a quitter, so I look forward to making history in Saudi Arabia.”