Robert Whittaker has seen it all in Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Middleweight division.
The former 185-pound titleholder has gotten back to form, if he ever left it, putting on two strong back-to-back performances against Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov (watch highlights). The latter bout was supposed to see Whittaker tasked with the undefeated 13-0 contender, Khamzat Chimaev. That was until illness forced “Borz” from the match up and led to it getting rebooked for UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi next month (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024).
Whittaker, 33, has fought all types of styles throughout his 33-fight career (26-7), including great wrestlers like Yoel Romero. “The Reaper” is always ready for war thanks to his experience and anticipates the same against his next foe.
“You can bet your bottom dollar that I am training like an animal right now on the mats,” Whittaker said on MMArcade. “I am sweating and bleeding and leaving it all there. in preparation for this fight, and I’m coming into this fight to leave it all there.
“I don’t expect him to get tired or anything else,” he continued. “I expect him to come out aggressive and to be super scary in the wrestling and very strong. I just think I’ve been in those wars before. I know how to train. I’m good in there. I am the best Middleweight in the world. Beating him will prove that, and I look forward to it.”
Whittaker has only lost to future or current champions since he jumped from Welterweight to Middleweight in November 2014. After losses to Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, Whittaker came back stronger and hopes to make one final title push before he calls it a career.