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UFC 308: Daniel Cormier reveals cruel result of Khamzat Chimaev's face crunch against Robert Whittaker


UFC 308: Daniel Cormier reveals cruel result of Khamzat Chimaev's face crunch against Robert Whittaker

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 26: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia prepares to fight Robert Whittaker of New Zealand in a middleweight bout during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to compete. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Khamzat Chimaev made sure Robert Whittaker didn't have a good night at UFC 308. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Warning: This article contains an image of a disturbing and bloody injury to a person's mouth. Don't scroll down if you don't tolerate blood.

Fighting Khamzat Chimaev never seemed like a fun proposition, but it provided a grisly warning in the form of Robert Whittaker's mouth at UFC 308.

The Chechen middleweight improved his record to 14-0 with another first-round finish, this time against a former UFC middleweight champion trying to stay in the elite ranks of his division. Chimaev took just seconds to get Whittaker to the floor and continued to work him over until he caught him with a face crank submission.

It was Whittaker's first loss by submission since 2011.

However, there was something strange about the submission. Whittaker tapped out as soon as Chimaev had his arm around his face, with an urgency not often seen from a man who is doing everything he can to survive.

The reason for this quickly became clear. Chimaev's arm severely injured Whittaker's jaw and UFC commentator Daniel Cormier revealed the extent of the injury after the fight. Cormier shared a picture on his phone that showed three of Whittaker's teeth bent backwards and his jaw appeared to be dislocated.

This is what can happen when you sign up for an MMA career.

Chimaev certainly knew he had done something to Whittaker, as he told reporters after the fight.

“I felt like there was something wrong with his chin when I pressed on it, and I'm sorry about that,” Chimaev said at his UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “I didn't mean to break anyone's jaw, but it's my job to cause someone pain. To make me and my family happy.”

As violent as the ending was, Chimaev showed with his victory on Saturday that he was ready for the title fight. He's had turmoil, injuries, a badly missed weight at UFC 279 and an announced retirement, but on Saturday he may have finally achieved the shot at the UFC title he's longed for.

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