It’s eight years ago Robert Whittaker defeated Yoel Romero The first time. Do you remember that night at UFC 213 in 2017?
Technically, the interim title was on the line, although the belt was quickly promoted to be undisputed Georges St. Stones‘Shocking pension. The competition is somewhat overshadowed by the Whittaker vs. Romero Rematch, a five -round showcase of Hart en Grit and Knockdowns that could have go in all directions and was the best fight of 2018.
The first fight was just as dramatic in his own way.
A 27-year-old former welterweight stepped up to the frightening Cuban Olympic wrestler who continued to eliminate everyone. He was brave and engaged immediately, but a low staircase tore his MCL in the first round. For 10 minutes, Whittaker was forced to withstand the storm of Romero’s ruthless wrestling and fierce soil attacks, to avoid strikes and removal while he was on a wobbly leg.
The young talent then survived and turned the tables, pushed the pace on his older opponent to steal the last three rounds and become the first UFC champion of Australia. It was an incredibly sandy version, the kind of 25 minutes of suffering that can only be called a few times in the career of a hunter.
That was eight years ago.
About six years ago – October 6, 2019, to be specific – Israel is the existence Semi -detached Whittaker in perhaps the best performance of his entire career (live here again). He went against the Australians in-and-out made masterful and finished him with violent grace in round two.
Since then, Whittaker has been an elite community who has worked his ass to get UFC Gold back. He scored a few first-class victories in that period and turned off several future and former title finer. From a realistic point of view, it has been a full decade of elite middleweight competition for Whittaker, since he was arranged against opposition in Brad Tavares And Uriah Hall Completely back in 2015.
After UFC Abu Dhabi last night (July 26, 2025) on ‘Fight Island’, it is the time of Clear Whittaker near the top.
Including its competitive loss for Reinier de Ridder“Bobby Knuckles” has now lost three times in the last two years. The Dricus du Plying Updoors seemed impossible at the time, but “Still Knocks” has proven a masterful hunter in his own bizarre way. Be steamed – and his face crushed, literally – by Khamzat Chimaev Hurt last year (pay attention to this), but it is in no way an embarrassing loss.
That is exactly what “Borz” does, and the Chechense is an alien talent, regardless of what will happen next month at UFC 319.
The knight, however? It is a good middleweight. He has improved since he joined the UFC schedule, which hangs him on his feet, which makes him dangerous and effective on the feet. However, he should not be a good enough hunter to bring Whittaker to the absolute edge, the same deep waters that involves Whittaker Tread versus Romero in 2017.
There were several fairs last night in which Whittaker looked down on shot. A striking alarm is how bad the Aussie was tired in view of its history of excelation in five -round fights. A few knees in front of the belly in round two would influence someone’s cardio, but they do not explain the reason (s) that he was haunting for the entire last three rounds.
Whittaker just couldn’t catch a second wind.
There were other times when the Whittaker’s response time was noticeably taken. Fatigue is clearly also a factor here, but the Whittaker from a few years ago does not let the ultra -slow “RDR” tap its nose with so many jabs, regardless of exhaustion. Without reaction time, the explosive in-and-out style of striking from Whittaker is a much riskier game-it is a very good thing that he fought against a jiu-jitsu man.
The performance of last night made it clear that the decade of Whittaker is like an elite candidate, and it is time to plan an exit from combat sports. There are still many middle weights that Whittaker can beat – it remains fast, cunning and determined – but the number is shrinking every month.
If Whittaker lingers for much longer and continues to fight the top 10 -the losses will quickly accumulate and become blooder.
For complete UFC Abu Dhabi Results and play-by-play click here.
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