Robert Whittaker is aware of how he needs to shut out his storied profession.
“The Reaper” is presently scheduled to battle Reinier de Ridder within the July 26 predominant occasion of UFC Abu Dhabi. Whittaker vs. de Ridder is a key matchup within the middleweight division, with Whittaker being a former UFC champion and de Ridder having gone 3-0 since becoming a member of the promotion in 2024.
Ought to Whittaker defeat de Ridder, he’s nonetheless possible a number of fights away from incomes a title shot, a truth he’s properly conscious of. Chatting with FOX Sports Australia, Whittaker laid out his dream retirement state of affairs.
“4 fights,” Whittaker mentioned. “I see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. I need 4 extra, that’s me. I see the stepping stones wanted to do what I wish to do. 4 fights will get me into that title shot, will get me right into a place to complete on prime, to have that fairy story ending. I’m working in direction of it.”
Although Whittaker has fallen brief towards the highest of the division lately, he’s additionally stifled a couple of would-be contenders aiming to make their identify off of him. Previous to a loss to Khamzat Chimaev, Whittaker had scored back-to-back victories over Ikram Aliskerov and Paulo Costa, and his 6-3 run contains wins over Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Till.
Chimaev challenges champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in a matchup of the 2 fighters to most just lately defeat Whittaker. He’s desirous to rematch each males, although he is aware of there’s a rising lineup of contenders to get via first.
“The listing is getting too lengthy, now,” Whittaker mentioned with fun. “I’m working. Reinier’s within the sights in the meanwhile.”
Within the loss to Chimaev, Whittaker suffered a grotesque harm as a Chimaev choke induced his enamel to change into displaced in his mouth.
That battle didn’t led to a matter of minutes and Whittaker isn’t discouraged as a result of he doesn’t really feel he had the possibility to indicate what he can nonetheless do.
“He was simply higher than me on the day,” Whittaker mentioned. “I might look to make as many excuses underneath the solar as I need, however fact is I’ve received the L now, so all you are able to do actually is simply throw your self again within the health club, get again on the horse. As a result of the battle went the way in which it was, I’m not disheartened in my very own talent set notably a lot. I’m not disheartened in my placing skill, my knockout skill, so I’m going into this battle nonetheless with a variety of confidence that I can do what it’s that I do. Previous to the Chimaev battle, that I did to Ikram, that I did to Costa, placing’s my sport. He’s going to look to attempt to take me down and I’m not going to let him.”
