Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes there is a clear and dramatic gap between the grappling of Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez and reigning 185-pound titleholder Khamzat Chimaev.
The discussion comes on the heels of Sean Strickland’s victory over Hernandez (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) at UFC Houston this past Saturday. Following the win, Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) immediately set his sights on a title shot against Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who currently sits atop the middleweight division.
On paper, Hernandez represented a meaningful stylistic test. “Fluffy” is widely regarded as one of the division’s most aggressive and capable grapplers, known for his relentless pace and submission threats. A strong performance against him could be viewed as preparation for the grappling-heavy approach that defines Chimaev’s game. However, Whittaker, who has shared the Octagon with “Borz,” insists the comparison ends at the surface level.
Appearing on Submission Radio this week, Whittaker was asked whether the grappling of Hernandez and Chimaev operates on different tiers, particularly in terms of strength and overall control.
“Absolute night and day,” Whittaker said. “Having been in there with Chimaev and seeing what his grappling was like — and everyone saw what he did to Dricus — mate, it’s not the same. It is not the same.”
Whittaker speaks from firsthand experience. He was taken down and submitted by Chimaev at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi in October 2024, a performance that underscored the champion’s elite wrestling and suffocating top control. Chimaev later captured the middleweight title with a dominant, grappling-centric five-round victory over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 last August.
