Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker found redemption in his return to the cage last night (Sat., July 25, 2020) at UFC on ESPN 14 live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, when “Reaper” battled game contender Darren Till to earn a unanimous decision win in the main event.
Till landed the first big shot of the fight in Round 1 when an elbow during an inside clash knocked Whittaker to the canvas. Whittaker would rebound in the second to score a monstrous right hand that stopped Till in his tracks. The former middleweight champion took advantage by taking top control and landing vicious ground-and-pound to batter Till up.
In Round 3, Whittaker did some damage to Till’s lead leg with whipping kicks. Till kept trying to press forward with offense but Whittaker’s movement and positioning was difficult to deal with. Till came back in the fourth to land a sharp right hand out of the gate. “Gorilla” followed his efforts up with a snapping combination that had Whittaker backpedaling around the cage. Whittaker battled back and even landed some good uppercuts during a clinch exchange.
The fifth and final round saw Till land some crisp shots from range in the early few minutes, but Whittaker was there for more leg kicks and level changes. Till’s leg was certainly battered up but the former welterweight didn’t seem to slow, even catching Whittaker during an exchange and creating a cut. Whittaker rebounded, though, to score a few takedowns before the final bell.
Check out the highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN.
PURE SILENCE. #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/blB2uVrJrp
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
The Reaper is on the move #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/Ie5a3Cuii5
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
All the talk. All the memes. They end now.
LIVE on @ESPN / E+ #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/F8uw7zemgG
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
Till sits him down!! #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/tDIxscTOsy
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 26, 2020
The shot by @darrentill2 that dropped Whittaker in the first round #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/IMrgpK8fgi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 26, 2020
ROCKET! @RobWhittakerMMA has Till stunned in RD 2.#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/Xwy5RRDdkY
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
Till is tee-ing off in RD 4! #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/Yw094YVawl
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
We went the distance on Fight Island Who took it? #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/AH1tmgz475
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
WARRIORS #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/nmnJWSePMP
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 26, 2020
HE’S BACK! ‘The Reaper’ is back on top. #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/VD7gaPOrRr
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
For complete UFC on ESPN 14 results and coverage click here.