Robert Whittaker News
Robert Whittaker believes "no one expects me to win" but says Israel Adesanya "looks beatable" ahead of UFC 271
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2022
Robert Whittaker says the pressure is off him for his UFC 271 main event title rematch against Israel Adesanya. Whittaker and Adesanya are set to run it back after “The Last Stylebender” scored a second-round TKO win back in 2019 to become the new champ. Since then, Whittaker has won three fights to earn the rematch and for him, he’s glad he had the chance to fight multiple times before running it back with Adesanya.
Israel Adesanya plans to unveil “new weapons” in UFC 271 rematch with Robert Whittaker: “I'm not even lying. He's f*cked”
Susan Cox - February 8, 2022
With UFC 271 only days away, Israel Adesanya plans to unveil ‘new weapons’ in his rematch with Robert Whittaker. Adesanya (21-1 MMA) will be taking on Whittaker (24-5 MMA) in the much anticipated headliner at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, February 12th.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 66 with Robert Whittaker, Renato Moicano, Roxanne Modafferi, Kyler Phillips, and Jared Vanderaa
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2022
The 66th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 271. We’re first joined by one-half of the main event in the top-ranked middleweight contender and former middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker (2:53). UFC lightweight, Renato Moicano (15:35) then stops by. 12th-ranked women’s flyweight, Roxanne Modafferi (28:06) joins the show. UFC bantamweight, Kyler Phillips (38:30) then comes on. Closing out the show is UFC heavyweight, Jared Vanderaa (49:28).
Coach Eugene Bareman would like to see a “five-round whitewash” from Israel Adesanya in rematch with Robert Whittaker
Susan Cox - February 7, 2022
This coming Saturday, February 12th at UFC 271 in Houston will feature the much anticipated Adesanya vs Whittaker 2. The two fighters met up back at UFC 243 in October 2019 with Adesanya (21-1 MMA) beating Whittaker (24-5 MMA) by a second round knockout.
Robert Whittaker is relishing his underdog status ahead of UFC 271 rematch with Israel Adesanya: “It definitely takes some of the pressure off”
Harry Kettle - January 27, 2022
Robert Whittaker has admitted that he enjoys being the underdog heading into his UFC 271 rematch against Israel Adesanya. After more than two years of waiting, Robert Whittaker will finally get the chance for revenge when he challenges Israel Adesanya next month for the UFC middleweight championship. In their initial bout, at UFC 243, many fans and pundits couldn’t decide who was going to come out on top – but “The Last Stylebender” definitely seems to have the advantage with the bookmakers after how dominant he was in their first meeting.
Official main card announced for UFC 271, Derrick Lewis vs Tai Tuivasa serves as co-headliner
Harry Kettle - January 24, 2022
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced the main card for UFC 271 with Derrick Lewis vs Tai Tuivasa serving as the co-main event. Next month in Houston, the UFC will put on their second pay-per-view of the year with the headline attraction being Israel Adesanya vs Robert Whittaker 2 for the UFC middleweight title. However, despite that being an incredible main event, it’s worth noting that there are plenty of other intriguing contests set to go down at the Toyota Center.
Robert Whittaker would “love” to get Israel Adesanya “on his back” in UFC 271 rematch
Susan Cox - January 11, 2022
UFC 271 features a middleweight title fight rematch between Robert Whittaker (23-5 MMA) and Israel Adesanya (21-1 MMA) and goes down February 12th at the Toyota Center in Houston. Losing his title to Adesanya back in October 2019 at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia, Whittaker is aiming to reclaim his belt and recently spoke to ‘MMA Junkie‘ about what went wrong with his first fight:
Robert Whittaker explains what went wrong in first fight with Israel Adesanya: "My ego was something that affected me"
Chris Taylor - January 8, 2022
Robert Whittaker has explained what went wrong in his first fight with reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Whittaker (23-5 MMA) and Adesanya (21-1 MMA) initially collided for the promotions undisputed middleweight title in October of 2019, with ‘Stylebender’ emerging victorious by way of a second round knockout.
Dana White explodes after Israel Adesanya implies his rematch with Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 is not a done deal
Harry Kettle - December 14, 2021
UFC president Dana White has reacted angrily to Israel Adesanya’s implication that his rematch with Robert Whittaker isn’t a done deal. Dana White has often been involved in verbal spats with fighters and, most of the time, the exchanges take place indirectly. This serves as yet another example of that with Israel Adesanya using a “cap” symbol to indicate he believes Dana White and the UFC are lying about his Robert Whittaker rematch being signed, sealed and delivered. The pair are currently set to clash at UFC 271 but Adesanya seems to disagree with the current state of play.
Israel Adesanya vs Robert Whittaker 2 reportedly in jeopardy for UFC 271: "They're panicking"
Susan Cox - December 1, 2021
A highly anticipated rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker is apparently in jeopardy for UFC 271. Adesanya (21-1 MMA) and Whittaker (23-5 MMA) had originally squared off for the promotions undisputed middleweight title in October of 2019, with ‘Stylebender’ emerging victorious by way of a second round knockout.
Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane, Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 targeted for UFC 270
Adam D Martin - October 6, 2021
Two title fights featuring Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane and Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 are being targeted for UFC 270. According to the French outlet “La Sueur,” UFC 270 is being planned to take place on January 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is not official yet, but the UFC plans on having the UFC heavyweight title unified that night between the champ Ngannou and the interim champ Gane. As for the co-main event, the plan is to have to rematch between Adesanya and Whittaker. Overall, with these two title fights at the top of the bill, UFC 270 is shaping up to be a stacked card already. MMA journalist Aaron Bronsteter added the following:
Dana White confirms Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 targeted for January
Adam D Martin - September 17, 2021
UFC president Dana White confirmed that the rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker is being targeted for January. Adesanya defeated Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision back in June at UFC 263, and the hope was that the UFC would be able to get the middleweight champ back in the cage one more time before 2021 was up. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel and quarantine rules for fighters in Australia and New Zealand, it has become difficult for the UFC to get this fight booked. In fact, as White told The Daily Telegraph in a recent interview, he is now targeting the Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 fight to take place next year.
Robert Whittaker admits trash talk from "sh*thead" Israel Adesanya got in his head: "It did, because the last fight I was kind of very emotional”
Chris Taylor - July 3, 2021
Robert Whittaker admits that he let his emotions get the best of him in his first fight with Israel Adesanya at UFC 243. Whittaker (23-5 MMA) and Adesanya (21-1 MMA) squared off for the promotions undisputed middleweight title in October of 2019, with ‘Stylebender’ emerging victorious by way of second round knockout.
Robert Whittaker dubs Israel Adesanya’s UFC 263 performance as average, ‘Stylebender’ responds
Adam D Martin - June 21, 2021
Robert Whittaker dubbed UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s UFC 263 performance as average, and “The Last Stylebender” responded. Adesanya defeated rival Marvin Vettori in the pair’s rematch as last weekend’s UFC 263 pay-per-view event in Glendale, Arizona. Adesanya was able to utilize his superior striking and showed improvements in his grappling as he was able to win a unanimous decision over the Italian. Vettori, of course, only got the title shot against Adesanya after Whittaker was forced to decline it due to the fight’s close proximity to his matchup against Kelvin Gastelum in April. With Whittaker unable to take the fight at that time, Vettori stepped up and got the title shot instead, only Adesanya was able to go in there and win handily.
Kelvin Gastelum says Robert Whittaker has "real chance at regaining that middleweight title" from Israel Adesanya
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
UFC middleweight Kelvin Gastelum says Robert Whittaker has a “real chance at regaining that middleweight title” from champ Israel Adesanya. Gastelum has fought both Whittaker and Adesanya so he knows exactly what both men bring to the table. In the wake of Adesanya’s win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 263, which improved his record as a UFC middleweight to a perfect 10-0, the next fight to make for the 185lbs title seems to be Adesanya against Whittaker. And if you ask Gastelum what he thinks about that potential title fight, he thinks there’s a good chance the champ loses.
Robert Whittaker up next for Israel Adesanya, confirms Dana White
Adam Martin - June 13, 2021
Robert Whittaker is up next for UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in his next title defense, confirmed UFC president Dana White. Whittaker was expected to be next in line to fight Adesanya following three straight wins over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum, but he had to turn down the title shot against Adesanya at UFC 263 for several reasons. According to Whittaker, the turnaround following the Gastelum fight in April was too soon for him to fight again in June, especially since he needed to quarantine once he got home to Australia. With Whittaker not being able to take the fight for June 12, the UFC instead got Marvin Vettori to fight Adesanya, and the champ defended his title with a unanimous decision victory at UFC 263.
Robert Whittaker reveals he fought Kelvin Gastelum with torn ligaments in his hand
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
Robert Whittaker put on a dominant performance over Kelvin Gastelum on April 17 and did so while fighting with an injury. Whittaker was supposed to face Paulo Costa on the card but the Brazilian was forced out of the bout and Gastelum stepped up on short notice. However, when Whittaker arrived in Las Vegas and began training he tore ligaments in his hand. Even though he had torn ligaments in his hand, he still earned a dominant decision over Gastelum.
Robert Whittaker issues hilarious response when asked if he hopes Israel Adesanya will beat Marvin Vettori in UFC 263 rematch
Chris Taylor - April 25, 2021
Robert Whittaker gave a hilarious response when asked if hoped Israel Adesanya would beat Marvin Vettori in their scheduled rematch at UFC 263. After Whittaker (23-5 MMA) scored a dominant victory over Kelvin Gastelum last weekend, which extended his current winning streak to three in a row, many fans expected that a rematch with reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya would be next for the Aussie.