Robert Whittaker gives himself “50/50” chance in rematch with Yoel Romero

This weekend, in the main event of the absurdly stacked UFC 225 card, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will attempt to defend his title against the fearsome Yoel Romero. This bout will mark the pair’s second meeting, as Whittaker defeated Romero with a competitive, unanimous decision win a little less than a year ago.

Despite the fact that Whittaker already holds a win over Romero, he is not guaranteeing himself a win this second time around. Instead, he feels the rematch is a veritable coin-flip.

”Some people ask me: Does it give you any confidence knowing that you’ve already beaten him once? I’ve got to say ‘not really’ because he hits like a truck and it only takes one to get you,” Whittaker told ESPN. “He’s a human specimen, to begin with, and he’s one of the most athletic, explosive and talented humans on the planet. So every time I step in there with him it’s 50/50.”

For Whittaker, it is the many challenges that fighters like Yoel Romero bring to the table that push him to get better. Not just physically, but mentally too.

”I’m constantly pushing my mental capacity well over its cap,” Whittaker said. “I’m thinking about his takedowns; I’m thinking about not getting hit with his sledgehammer hands. I’m tired, I need to initiate the attack; I have to push him, he has to push me. That, for 25 minutes, it takes a toll.”

“It’s more mentally taxing than physically taxing,” he added.

While Whittaker is clearly not looking past Romero, he is determined to leave the Octagon with another victory over Romero, and continue on his mission to assert himself as the greatest fighter ever.

”I want to be the best fighter ever, there ever was, there ever has been; there ever could be,” Whittaker said. “And the only way I can do that is by fighting everyone and just stopping everyone.”

Who do you think comes out on top in Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero’s UFC 225 rematch?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/6/2018.