Fresh off a sensational first-round KO victory at UFC Saudi Arabia, Robert Whittaker is chasing redemption over Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.
Last night, ‘The Reaper’ produced a spectacular performance, proving he still has what it takes to dine at the top table of MMA.
Robert Whittaker wants his revenge over Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya
On a night in which he really needed to make a statement, Robert Whittaker rose to the occasion. After being set the difficult assignment of adjusting his gameplan from Khamzat Chimavev to Ikram Aliskerov, ‘Bobby Knuckles’ produced a mesmeric showing to render his opponent unconscious in the first round.
Utilizing his striking expertise, the former champion landed a magnificent right hand, before hitting the jackpot with a thunderous uppercut to send his opponent crashing towards the canvas.
The impressive victory has propelled Whittaker right back into the title picture, with his sights firmly set on the two men competing for gold at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. And having squared-off with both of them in the past, the warrior believes he has what it takes to earn redemption.
Haunted by the last time, he went toe-to-toe with Dricus Du Plessis, he’s desperate to prove to the world that he’s better than the man who showed up in Las Vegas.
At the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight press conference, he explained: “Look at the paperwork. Since that fight, I’ve only improved. I’m not saying if I was on I would’ve beaten him. I’m not going to take that away from him.
“He turned up on the day and beat me fair and square, and now he’s the world champion because of it; he’s a good fighter and he’s good at what he does,” acknowledged ‘The Reaper’.
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“But I know I can do better. Will I beat him? Maybe he gets his hand raised again. But I know I can do better and I know I didn’t put my best foot forward in that fight, and I want to run it back because of that.”
However, while his South African nemesis is in his sights, he hasn’t forgotten about the man who took the belt from him. When the Aussie first crossed paths with Israel Adesanya, he fell foul to not just his rival’s kickboxing abilities, but also the pressure of fighting in front of 51,127 people in a football stadium.
The second time they met, Whittaker produced a much better showing, with many of his fans believing he did enough to get his hand raised. Thus, in his heart, he believes if they were to fight again, he could finally claim the scalp that has for so long illuded him.
Whittaker explained: “Adesanya is still on that list. My goal in mixed martial arts is to live up to my own potential. That’s the only thing I want to achieve. I know how good I am. I’m the most dangerous middleweight on the planet, and everyone knows that. But they are big shoes to fill.
“That’s the only thing I ask for before I step in the octagon, to live up to my own potential. Tonight, I think I did that.”
And with UFC 305, just around the corner, the resurging 185-pound star might get his shot at glory sooner than he first thought.
When will Robert Whittaker fight for UFC gold?
On August 17, Adesanya and Du Plessis will finally have the opportunity to settle their rivalry once and for all. The pair of middleweight titans have long held a grudge against one another, with the fans positively salivating at the prospect of the warriors trading leather in the cage.
However, as has been proved in recent times with Conor McGregor and Khamzat Chimaev, a fight is never truly on until the warriors are locked in the cage.
Whether it’s illness, injuries or missing weight, there’s a host of things that can go wrong before a major card, which is why the UFC always have a back-up plan in place.
And on this occasion, Whittaker has put himself forward to be the man to save the event if necessary.
Following his monumental victory, he spoke to the media about his willingness to step up to the plate.
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