Robert Whittaker and Joe Hendry almost went head-to-head in a showdown of combat sports icons.
In his mixed martial arts career, ‘The Reaper’ has proven his skills beyond doubt, winning the UFC middleweight world title.
He’s also flirted with other sports, with Whittaker once sparring boxing world champion, Jai Opetaia.
And back in 2018, he qualified for the Commonwealth Games in freestyle wrestling.
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Robert Whittaker could’ve wrestled Joe Hendry in the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Robert Whittaker and Joe Hendry both cemented their statuses as fantastic grapplers by qualifying to represent their countries in Australia.
Upon discovering that the UFC superstar was scheduled to compete in his weight category of 97kg, the professional wrestler issued a challenge.
In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, he said: “What kind of athlete would I be if I didn’t call out the top guy.
“So, I, Joe Hendry, am calling out UFC champion, Robert Whittaker, so there you go. Commonwealth Games, I know there’s procedures, but let’s see if we can make one exception and make this match.”
Alas, Whittaker never made it to the event.
At the time, he told MMA Fighting: ”The UFC wasn’t too happy with my competing in the Commonwealth Games. I was told I would have been stripped of the title if I had gotten injured. Everyone knows my priority. This (UFC) is my job.
”It’s not really a choice to be made. If it’s a choice, providing finances and putting food on the table and being paid for my job, or competing in the Commonwealth Games where I’m not making money, is there really a choice to be made? I thought for an hour or two, but there was never a choice to be made.”
Hendry ended up finishing in ninth place for Team Scotland.
Robert Whittaker believes there’s only one way to beat Khamzat Chimaev
While Whittaker couldn’t display his skills at the Commonwealth Games, the world knows just how good a wrestler he is.
During two fights with Yoel Romero, he exhibited incredible takedown defense.
However, as good as he is in this department, he couldn’t fend off Khamzat Chimaev, with ‘Borz’ breaking his jaw in a devastating display last October.
Now, Whittaker says there’s only one way to beat Chimaev.