Robert Whittaker has large plans for his return to america.
Ought to the previous middleweight champion have his manner, his subsequent combat will probably be in June on the upcoming UFC White Home occasion and he has one other former titleholder in his sights: Sean Strickland.
“I’d like to combat Sean Strickland in entrance of the White Home,” Whittaker stated on Fox Sports activities Australia. “For one, I feel that’s going to be a monumental event. When are you ever going to have the ability to combat in entrance of the White Home ever once more?
“However I’ve been making an attempt to combat Sean for the longest of occasions simply because I like that combat. We’ve been in the identical circles for some time. He’s nonetheless ranked 3, which places me proper again right into a dialog that I need to be part of, and I feel it’ll be a enjoyable combat. I feel it’ll be a great combat to look at. I’d like to be on that.”
If Whittaker will get his Washington, D.C., date with Strickland, it is going to be the primary time in over two years “The Reaper” has fought on U.S. soil. The matchup is sensible for each fighters, with Whittaker seeking to keep within the contender combine following consecutive losses to Reinier de Ridder and Khamzat Chimaev, and Strickland set to compete once more in 2026 following a current suspension for a post-fight assault on a fighter at a Tuff-N-Uff occasion in Las Vegas this previous June.
Sadly for Whittaker’s Australian followers, his deliberate timetable possible received’t embrace a house date. The UFC is predicted to return to Sydney in February and if Whittaker signed on for that occasion, he must spend most of his vacation season getting ready to combat versus spending time along with his household.
That point is particularly essential to Whittaker with a brand new child on the way in which.
“I need to, my head needs to, however I simply don’t assume it’s going to occur,” Whittaker stated of doubtless preventing in February. “I’m having a child, due in just a few weeks, and I need to be there for that interval. I need to be there for my children throughout Christmas. I don’t need to be in camp throughout this era, I’ve missed numerous them. Granted, I’ve had numerous children, however yeah, my coronary heart’s simply telling me I don’t actually need to be in camp throughout this era of the brand new child, introducing it to the household, Christmas and stuff.
“I’ll be on the card for positive, however I’ll most likely be wanting [to fight] a little bit bit later down the observe.”
