Robert Whittaker is on the cusp of getting again to an Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Middleweight title shot.
Though his stretch as a UFC champion spanned over three years, Whittaker’s reign was brief. “The Reaper” was promoted from interim standing after his first unanimous determination win over Yoel Romero in July 2017. After that, he technically by no means defended his title when he rematched Romero one yr later, profitable a cut up determination after Romero missed weight.
Whittaker, 34, has left his mark on the game for not solely his nation of New Zealand however the 185-pound division. As battle followers, now we have to get pleasure from his time in motion whereas he nonetheless competes as a result of there may not be a lot time left.
“I’m eager about wrapping it up round 36. That’s what? Two and a half years,” Whittaker advised Demetrious Johnson. “I really feel like 36 is an efficient age to love actually have a stable crack at one thing else, no matter it’s I wish to do, you understand?
“I do the traditional issues,” he continued. “I save greater than I spend. I look to purchase land and funding properties each time I can afford it. I’m seeking to push my desires forward. I’m not likely shifting into something I must dedicate an excessive amount of focus in the direction of as a result of I do imagine that every thing you try this isn’t preventing takes away slightly little bit of that psychological thoughts house you have got, and also you don’t have a number of it.”
Whittaker admitted that he unfold himself thinner than typical forward of his Dricus du Plessis bout in July 2023. The battle was Whittaker’s final loss, because the now-champion defeated him through a second spherical technical knockout (watch highlights).
Subsequent up would be the rebooked Khamzat Chimaev match up for Whittaker at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, 2024.
“I wish to battle by the tip of the yr,” Whittaker mentioned of why he accepted the rebooking. “If they offer me a title battle subsequent, I might be glad. If the battle with Dricus and [Israel] Adesanya have been to occur then they are saying, ‘Hey, wait till subsequent yr and you may battle for the title.’ I’d wait. What’s an additional couple months, proper? It’s a title battle. I’m gonna battle a technique or one other and profitable pushes me in the direction of my objectives anyway.”
