Robert Whittaker referred to as his shot, and it seems like it could repay.
Following his fast TKO end of Ikram Aliskerov within the UFC on ABC 6 major occasion in Saudi Arabia, Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) expressed curiosity in a backup function for the Aug. 17 middleweight title struggle between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.
“I’m not kidding you, no person within the prime 15 wished to struggle (Aliskerov),” White advised reporters at a post-fight information convention. “This man would’ve been the co-main occasion final weekend. He had a full camp. He got here in. Khamzat (Chimaev) calls this man one of many hardest fights he’s ever had and Whittaker made it look straightforward tonight. He regarded like a stud. … We’d like to have him (as a UFC 305 backup).”
Whittaker has misplaced to Du Plessis (as soon as) and Adesanya (twice). His solely losses in his 18 most up-to-date outings have come towards them. Since his loss to Du Plesiss in 2023, Whittaker has received back-to-back fights. The bout towards Aliskerov solely lasted 1:49.
Different prime middleweight contenders in the meanwhile embody Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov, and Khamzat Chimaev. None of these fighters are presently booked, although Imavov and Chimaev referred to as to be booked vs. Whittaker after Saturday’s card.
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