issue 219

July 2025

This is the moment Khamzat Chimaev rearranged Robert Whittaker’s dental records and redefined what violent grappling looks like at the elite level. At the time, the undefeated contender had primarily been smoke and headlines for the past two years. However, on that night, the moment the cage door shut, it was fire from the start. After a quick takedown, Chimaev clamped onto Whittaker’s head with the kind of force that made Jon Anik squirm and Daniel Cormier whisper about bones breaking. And they weren’t wrong. Whittaker would later reveal his teeth had shifted in the scramble. The tap came pretty fast. The silence came faster. This was the first time in his career that Whittaker had been submitted. It was also all Chimaev needed to call for a title shot, which he gets later this month. 

Date: October 28, 2024

Event: UFC 308

Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi