Robert Whittaker is aware of how he needs to shut out his storied profession.
“The Reaper” is at the moment scheduled to combat Reinier de Ridder within the July 26 most important 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 probably a number of fights away from incomes a title shot, a truth he’s effectively conscious of. Talking to FOX Sports activities Australia, Whittaker laid out his dream retirement situation.
“4 fights,” Whittaker stated. “I see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. I would like 4 extra, that’s me. I see the stepping stones wanted to do what I need to do. 4 fights will get me into that title shot, will get me right into a place to complete on high, to have that fairy story ending. I’m working in direction of it.”
Although Whittaker has fallen brief in opposition to the highest of the division in recent times, he’s additionally stifled just a few would-be contenders aiming to make their title 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 consists of wins over Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Until.
Chimaev challenges champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in a matchup of the 2 fighters to most lately defeat Whittaker. He’s wanting to rematch each males, although he is aware of there’s a rising lineup of contenders to get by means of first.
“The checklist is getting too lengthy, now,” Whittaker stated with fun. “I’m working. Reinier’s within the sights in the meanwhile.”
Within the loss to Chimaev, Whittaker suffered a ugly harm as a Chimaev choke induced his tooth to develop into displaced in his mouth.
That combat 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 stated. “I may look to make as many excuses underneath the solar as I would like, however reality is I’ve received the L now, so all you are able to do actually is simply throw your self again within the fitness center, get again on the horse. As a result of the combat went the way in which it was, I’m not disheartened in my very own talent set significantly a lot. I’m not disheartened in my hanging means, my knockout means, so I’m going into this combat nonetheless with numerous confidence that I can do what it’s that I do. Previous to the Chimaev combat, that I did to Ikram, that I did to Costa, hanging’s my sport. He’s going to look to attempt to take me down and I’m not going to let him.”
