After securing a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 298, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker discussed potential opponents and outlined his preferred timeline for a return. Despite facing a challenging moment with a late first-round high kick from Costa, Whittaker's resilience solidified his contender status in the 185-pound division.
This victory followed Whittaker's last appearance on the main card at UFC 290 in July during International Fight Week, where he experienced a surprising second-round TKO loss to Dricus du Plessis. The latter became the newly-crowned champion with a stoppage win at the Octagon fence.
Contemplating his return, 'The Reaper' has identified potential opponents. In a recent episode of the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker expressed his interest in facing either the current champion, Dricus du Plessis, in a rematch or squaring off against former titleholder Sean Strickland for his next octagon appearance.
I'm angling towards a goal, I wanna reclaim my belt. I would love to run it back with Dricus, especially cause he got the gold. But I do understand that Strickland is in line, like in the sights a little bit.
Robert Whittaker
Whittaker Acknowledges Training Shortfalls
In July 2023, Robert Whittaker faced a second-round stoppage loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290. Acknowledging training mistakes, he admitted to errors in his preparation for the bout last month.
Whittaker shared that witnessing 'Stillknocks' secure the middleweight title from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 prompted him to recognize a shortfall in his training for their fight. Nevertheless, he is relentless about not making the same mistake again.
Dricus du Plessis is one of those contenders that the Whittaker wishes to rematch. However, observing a past fight involving du Plessis, it becomes apparent that he did not adequately prepare for him. he also acknowledges not giving du Plessis the respect he deserved. While recognizing him as a formidable and resilient fighter,
Whittaker admits to underestimating the true extent of his toughness, strength, and determination. Vowing not to repeat the oversight, he expresses a newfound appreciation for du Plessis' capabilities.
Whittaker's Post-Victory Satisfaction & Future Plans
Expressing contentment with his recent performance, Whittaker shared his satisfaction during a post-fight news conference. Emphasizing his customary post-fight demeanor, he attributed his appearance to a challenging about with Costa, highlighting the intensity of their exchange. Beyond the victory itself, Whittaker derived fulfillment from achieving his intended goals.
Following a rebound from a TKO defeat against Dricus Du Plessis in July, the 33-year-old fighter now sets his sights on a mid-2024 return, planning for a third outing in the latter half of the year. However, the opponent for this anticipated bout remains uncertain—Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev?
Whittaker remains open to options, acknowledging the dynamic nature of the middleweight division and the opportunities it presents. While fans and media proposed a matchup against Strickland following his UFC 298 win, Whittaker, appreciative of the UFC's matchmaking, is undeterred in letting the promotion decide his opponents.
Whittaker's Comeback Plan
After setbacks and losing the title to Israel Adesanya in 2019 and a rematch in 2022, Robert Whittaker's recent win over Costa has revived his championship aspirations. Eyeing a return in mid-2024, Whittaker sees potential in facing Sean Strickland to propel him closer to another title shot.
While hinting at a rumored Perth card in August, he remains open to headlining an event in Australia. Considering du Plessis' likely matchup with Adesanya, a bout with Strickland makes strategic sense. Whittaker acknowledges the potential workload of a five-round fight but expresses eagerness to repay Australia and Perth with a headline event.
Emphasizing his focus on a goal-oriented approach, Whittaker is open to the UFC's matchmaking decisions and aims for a significant comeback.
