Robert Whittaker has fully recovered after suffering a severe dental injury caused by Khamzat Chimaev’s face crank submission at UFC 308. The former UFC middleweight champion endured significant damage to his bottom teeth during the fight, which necessitated major dental surgery.
Although the injury appeared severe, Whittaker’s dental problems had been worsening for years, including cracked molars, failed root canals, and persistent gum infections. Following the fight, he underwent surgery to extract the damaged teeth and have them replaced with implants. During this procedure, doctors also found a large cyst in his jaw, likely the source of his recurring infections.
Whittaker recently revealed that Dana White, the UFC president, personally covered the entire cost of his dental treatment. Speaking before his upcoming bout against Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi, the Australian fighter stated:
“I’m 100 per cent recovered. Honestly, it wasn’t too long afterwards, I just got them taken out. So got implants put in, just had to wait for them to settle. If anything, they are better than before. And the price was paid by Uncle Dana.”
—Robert Whittaker, UFC Middleweight Fighter
Whittaker prepares to face Reinier de Ridder, who is currently enjoying a three-fight winning streak in the UFC. De Ridder recently earned a notable victory over rising UFC prospect Bo Nickal in May. Meanwhile, Whittaker holds a 3-2 record in his past five fights, looking to regain momentum.
Robert Whittaker’s plan for his career’s final chapter and UFC championship
Whittaker has shared his vision for concluding his career on a high note, focusing on securing one last UFC middleweight title before retiring. He begins this campaign in his upcoming fight against Reinier de Ridder this Sunday, aiming to build momentum toward a potential rematch with Dricus du Plessis. In an interview with Fox Sports Australia, Whittaker expressed his ambitions clearly:
“I want to get the belt and sail off into the sunset. That’s the dream. That’s the plan.”
—Robert Whittaker, UFC Middleweight Fighter
He further reflected on his readiness for retirement and the importance of self-awareness in making a proper exit from the sport:
“You have to have a real good idea of who you are and be quite self-reflective to be able to do it properly so that you don’t end up back in the octagon a year later. I think that’s what I want… I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s like the last 100 metres of the marathon. I can see the end is in sight, and it’s time for that final push.”
—Robert Whittaker, UFC Middleweight Fighter
Whittaker’s determined mindset highlights his focus on finishing his career strong while capturing UFC gold once more. His recovery from the Khamzat Chimaev UFC face crank injury, supported by the UFC president, paves the way for this crucial phase.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Khamzat Chimaev a millionaire?
A. As of now, Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth is about $3 million. At 30 years old, he’s a huge star in Russia. The MMA fighter has impressively won all 14 professional fights, with 12 victories coming before the final bell.
Q. Why was Khamzat Chimaev cancelled?
A. But on February 11, UFC president Dana White said the fight was cancelled again because Chimaev was still dealing with COVID-19 symptoms.
Q. Did Khamzat Chimaev ever lose a fight?
A. Khamzat Chimaev has a record of 14 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws.