Robert Whittaker’s got the wind in his sails again. He’s keen on keeping that momentum rolling all year long.
Oh, and by the way, he just clinched a win at UFC 298. It was in the co-main event, where he outmaneuvered Paulo Costa. They battled it out for three rounds, and Whittaker emerged victorious with a unanimous decision. This showdown wasn’t in some random place, but at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. And let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park.
At one point, Costa nearly turned the tables with a spinning head kick. It was late in Round 1, and it really shook Whittaker. But, “The Reaper” bounced back. He dominated the last 10 minutes of the fight.
Post-fight, Whittaker was all smiles. “Obviously I’m very happy with it,” he shared. He looked a bit roughed up, but that’s part of the game, especially after a “firefight” with Costa.
Then there was that kick. The one that could’ve flipped the script. Whittaker shrugged it off. “We’re in the fight game,” he said. A moment, a millisecond, can change everything. But he kept his focus. Even when Costa pulled a “Hail Mary spinning capoeira kick,” Whittaker didn’t falter.
Before UFC 298, Whittaker faced a setback. He lost to Dricus Du Plessis last July, marking his first loss to someone other than Israel Adesanya since 2014. It shook up the middleweight division’s rankings.
But Whittaker’s not sweating it. “Options are definitely open,” he said. The middleweight division is unpredictable, full of movement and opportunities. Whittaker trusts the UFC to line up his opponents. He’s not about to start picking and choosing.
As for what’s next, Whittaker doesn’t have a specific opponent in mind. However, he’s got a plan for the year. “I’d definitely like to fight twice more,” he stated. He’s eager to get back in the ring mid-year. Fighting is his focus, aside from spending quality time with his family and new daughter.
So, if he’s not with his family, you know where to find him. Training. Preparing for the next fight. Because for Whittaker, it’s all about keeping that momentum going.