Khamzat Chimaev is on the road to redemption as he prepares to face Robert Whittaker in the highly anticipated co-main event of UFC 308. The fight, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, marks a crucial moment in Chimaev’s career as he aims to secure a shot at Dricus du Plessis’ middleweight belt. However, his journey to this fight has been anything but smooth.

Back in June, Chimaev was slated to fight Whittaker in Saudi Arabia in what would have been the toughest test of his career. Unfortunately, just a week before the bout, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Chimaev had fallen “violently ill” and was hospitalized. His illness forced the UFC to replace him with Ikram Aliskerov, who was quickly dispatched by Whittaker in the first round.

Despite widespread concern after worrying photos of Chimaev emerged, the fighter has since made a full recovery. Yet, the mystery remains—Chimaev still doesn’t know what made him so sick.

“We were in training camp, and the first month was great. But then, three weeks before the fight, my immunity just collapsed,” Chimaev explained on the UFC 308 Countdown show. “I don’t know what happened. Everyone ate the same food, but only I got sick. I was in the hospital for a few days, came out, and then it happened again. The doctor told me to take a break from the gym. So, I went home to the mountains.”

The break seems to have worked wonders, as Chimaev is now back in top shape, ready to take on Whittaker in a fight that could change the trajectory of his career.

While Chimaev has been undefeated since his professional debut in 2018, Whittaker presents a different level of challenge. A former middleweight champion, Whittaker is determined to reclaim his title, and to do so, he must be the first to defeat Chimaev.

“I’ve left no stone unturned,” Whittaker said in an interview with talkSPORT MMA. “I’ve trained my heart out. I’ve got 25 minutes with him, and I’m going to try to take his head off for the entire 25 minutes.”

Whittaker is confident that he can drag Chimaev into “deep waters” inside the octagon, an arena where he believes he holds the upper hand. Despite the ill-fated event in Saudi Arabia and the pressure surrounding this bout, Whittaker remains laser-focused on one goal: “burying” Chimaev and moving one step closer to becoming a two-time middleweight champion.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both fighters. Chimaev is not only fighting to maintain his unbeaten record but also to prove that he’s ready for a title shot after a troubling setback. On the other hand, Whittaker is fighting to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest by toppling one of UFC’s rising stars.

As the fight draws near, all eyes are on UFC 308, where two of the most formidable fighters in the middleweight division will clash in a battle of skill, heart, and redemption.

Get ready for an unforgettable night as Chimaev and Whittaker go head-to-head in what could be the fight of the year.