What’s Robert Whittaker alleged to do?
Key factors:
- Former UFC champion Rob Whittaker will return to motion this Sunday morning (AEST) towards Marvin Vettori in Paris
- Whittaker will try and reboot his marketing campaign for one more shot at middleweight champion Israel Adesanya
- One other Australian, heavyweight Tai Tuivasa, will headline the cardboard
He is the second finest middleweight on the planet by a good distance. Downside is, he is misplaced to middleweight champion Israel Adesanya twice and it is a uncommon factor for a fighter to get a 3rd chunk on the apple after lacking out two occasions earlier than.
So what else can Whittaker, who returns to the cage this weekend in Paris to tackle former title problem Marvin Vettori, count on to do?
Whittaker himself is not certain, however in line with him he does not must be proper now — as long as he retains preventing and successful, every part else will fall into place.
He nonetheless feels he did sufficient to earn the win over Adesanya of their second struggle again in February, which was the end result of a protracted journey of reconstruction after he misplaced the title to the New Zealander in October 2019.
“I am solely 31, I am simply coming into my prime. The perfect is but to come back. I nonetheless wish to struggle all people and beat all people, that’ll maintain issues easy,” Whittaker stated.
“I am a greater individual, a greater human and a greater athlete for that second Adesanya struggle.
“I needed to put myself again collectively, as a result of I used to be questioning every part. There’s a variety of questions whenever you’re uncovered like that, when the worst factor that would occur does occur.
“It took a variety of fights, constructing and processes to get again to the place I used to be for the second struggle, and after I got here out of that feeling like I would accomplished sufficient to win.
“I answered a variety of the questions I had, I took again a variety of the boldness I would misplaced, and I am going to solely be higher for that.”
Whittaker is warmly favoured to down Italy’s Vettori, a former title challenger recognized for his toughness and sturdiness, and he’d be as heat a favorite towards anyone aside from Adesanya.
Which is strictly why, ought to Whittaker triumph, his subsequent transfer is unsure.
He is flirted with a transfer as much as light-heavyweight, the place he could be considerably undersized, and he was briefly linked with a boxing bout towards star cruiserweight Jai Opetaia, one thing he denies was ever critically thought of however could be open to sooner or later if the value was proper.
Because it stands, his solely selection is to maintain bettering and successful, to repeatedly show he is one of the best middleweight not named Adesanya and watch for his probability. There’s nothing else to do and, fortunately for Whittaker, that is precisely how he needs to play it.
“In each struggle I get higher, and each struggle I take one thing ahead and enhance. I utterly imagine that each time I step within the octagon you see a greater model of myself than you probably did earlier than,” Whittaker stated.
“I take preventing critically, there’s a variety of funding concerned when it comes to my headspace and bodily attributes, and due to who I’m and the best way I take preventing – it is deadly.
“I am going into fights anticipating there to be no tomorrow, and you do not try this for enjoyable. I do not struggle that method as a result of it is enjoyable.”
Whittaker’s conflict with Vettori will act because the co-main occasion of the UFC’s maiden journey to France, with Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa to headline in a bumper showdown with French star Ciryl Gane.
Victory for Tuivasa would open the door for a shot at heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou early in 2023.
