Right now, one of Australia’s most popular UFC veterans, the 34-year-old Robert Whittaker, is preparing for the most important fight of his career. He’s hungry to get another crack at the middleweight championship. Known as the first world champion from Australia, Whittaker boasts an impressive 11 years of experience in mixed martial arts. At 6-foot-4 his reach is 201 cm and he has an 89 inch wingspan. Most memorably, earlier this year he made a statement in the octagon by finishing Olympic medalist and elite wrestler Bo Nickal via TKO.
Whittaker’s journey has not been without challenges. He has fought—and defeated—formidable challengers in the process of reaching the pinnacle. Most impressively, he fought Yoel Romero and Ronaldo Souza during their primes, both of whom have retired or left the UFC since their meetings with Whittaker. As he prepares for his upcoming bout against Reinier de Ridder, Whittaker has adapted his training camp to meet the unique demands of his opponent. He knows that if he ever wants to become a complete fighter, he needs to be tested by the most difficult of challenges.
In a recent interview, Whittaker provided an interesting glimpse into his mentality, his aspirations and more. He needs to hone his craft in battle. He’s determined to come back and demonstrate a new level of skill on the mat in his next competition.
“I’m still working on it. I want to show a new level to myself on Saturday but every fight pushes me closer. Hopefully, when I walk away is when I’ll be satisfied.” – Robert Whittaker
A New Approach to Training
As Whittaker prepares for his exciting showdown with de Ridder, plenty has changed with the former UFC champion’s training program. He’s brought in fighters from a wide range of styles to provide him with the most difficult test possible. He admits it’s difficult to find training partners who can replicate his height and southpaw stance.
“We brought in a lot of boys from the country, a lot from out of state; it’s hard to find guys who are that tall and are southpaws.” – Robert Whittaker
Whittaker’s preparation has included studying de Ridder’s strengths. He respects the Dutch combatant’s aggressive grappling and pressure style, which provides a different tricky threat. Whittaker explains that it’s critical for him to be dynamic and ready for anything to the fight in the octagon.
“He’s got good jiu-jitsu; he’s going to shoot because that’s where his strengths lie. But he brings that pressure as well — he’s got a unique style — if you let him do what he wants, he can walk away with it.” – Robert Whittaker
The Path Forward
Looking forward, Whittaker envisions himself in a final four-fight career closing sprint. He plans to become the middleweight champion and retire in only a few years’ time. He is happy with where he’s headed and understands how crucial difficult obstacles are to reaching his desired destination.
“One of my biggest goals in martial arts, in combat, has been to perfect my style, perfect the type of fighter I am, perfect being a fighter. You only get close to that when you take on hard challenges.” – Robert Whittaker
As a fiery conviction burns in his eyes, Whittaker’s explanation of his journey thus far in the UFC and the road ahead is seamlessly candid. Israel Adesanya came in with more recent struggles, having won the belt from Whittaker but losing three fights in a row since. Those challenges compel him to persevere. Whittaker understands the ever-changing dynamics within the UFC landscape. He wants to put himself in line with the right fight to earn himself an opportunity at the title shot.
“It spurs me on; it gives me some extra oomph — seeing the end in sight is like the last 100 meters of a marathon.” – Robert Whittaker
