Robert Whittaker sustained a significant jaw injury during his UFC 308 bout against Khamzat Chimaev, who secured a powerful first-round submission. The pressure from Chimaev's choke was so intense that Whittaker's teeth were visibly displaced, an indication of the injury's gravity. UFC President Dana White remarked on its severity, stating, "When your teeth are going in different directions, it's not good," according to Bloody Elbow. Despite the injury, Whittaker reassured fans, saying, "My jaw is good, but my teeth were moved in... it's a good excuse to fix them properly now."
The injury requires surgical correction with plates and screws, as explained by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Abbasi. This procedure will stabilise Whittaker's jaw, though it may sideline him for up to six months, a challenging timeframe for the highly active middleweight fighter. According to MMA Mania, Dr. Abbasi described Whittaker's injury as an "unstable mandible fracture," requiring careful recovery before safely returning to the Octagon.
