‘I thought I did enough. I thought I beat him’

Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker got here up quick on the judges’ scorecards in his rematch towards champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 271 on Saturday.

Of their first battle at UFC 243 in October 2019, Adesanya stopped Whittaker within the second spherical. On Saturday, the battle went the space and was extraordinarily shut. The judges scored the battle for Adesanya by unanimous choice with two judges scoring the bout 48-47, and one decide scoring the battle 49-46.

Regardless of the judges’ scoring, Whittaker felt that he did sufficient to recapture the 185-pound championship.

“I assumed I did sufficient,” Whittaker mentioned throughout the UFC 271 Put up-fight Press Convention. “Breaking it down, I believe I misplaced that first spherical, and I put myself again collectively. I believe I beat him to each punch. I received takedowns. I assumed I did sufficient, however it’s what it’s.”

“I assumed he appeared very beatable. I assumed I beat him. I assumed I did sufficient. I received inside his attain. I beat him to each punch, beat him each time. He didn’t land something that actually damage me however that one shot within the first (spherical).”

Whittaker mentioned that he has nothing however respect for Adesanya’s skillset and that he’s not attempting to take something away from Adesanya’s win.

Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 UFC 271 official scorecard

“I’m not taking something away from him. He gained. Actually, he gained. He’s received the belt. That’s the way it works. The judges gave it to him. That’s the enterprise,” Whittaker mentioned. “I’ve nothing however respect for his skillset.”

Whittaker has been on this precise state of affairs earlier than. He put collectively three consecutive wins to safe the championship rematch towards Adesanya, and believes a trilogy battle with “The Final Stylebender” is inevitable.

“A 3rd battle between me and Izzy is inevitable. It’s inevitable as a result of I’m going to stomp anyone who is available in entrance of me once more. And he is aware of that too. That’s why he mentioned, ‘I’ll be seeing you sooner or later.’ And I don’t see him dropping the belt anytime quickly,” Whittaker mentioned.

“I believe I’m the particular person to beat him. My mission stays the identical. Beat the subsequent man in entrance of me.”