Fan-Favorite Robert Whittaker Promises Fairytale Ending After Khamzat Chimaev Disaster

UFC veteran Robert Whittaker shares details about his future plans ahead of his potential retirement from the promotion.

Fan-Favorite Robert Whittaker Promises Fairytale Ending After Khamzat Chimaev Disaster

Robert Whittaker talks about leaving the sport as champion (via X)

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Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is undoubtedly one of the biggest fan favorites on the current UFC roster. Since joining the UFC in 2012, he’s taken on elite opponents, solidifying his legacy in the Octagon with a humble personality. Now at 34 years old, Whittaker acknowledges his career is nearing its end, with only a few battles left to fight.

Whittaker lost his UFC title to Israel Adesanya in 2019 via a brutal knockout in front of his Melbourne fans. Since then, he’s had several failed attempts at reclaiming the belt, despite consistent performances against top contenders. Ahead of his fight with Reinier de Ridder, Whittaker revealed massive future plans during a candid chat on Ariel Helwani’s podcast.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I understand it’s my last big push, the last sprint, last 100m of the race. I can see the path to the gold, & the dream is that fairy tale ending. Everything goes into this. Sail off into the sunset, as the champ. 

Robert Whittaker via The Ariel Helwani Show

In his last bout, ‘The Reaper’ faced Khamzat Chimaev in a high-stakes title eliminator that ended shockingly within the first few minutes. Chimaev overwhelmed Whittaker by breaking his jaw and forcing a stoppage that stunned fans and analysts across the MMA world. Following the brutal defeat, many fans and pundits began writing Whittaker off, believing his championship window had officially closed.

However, recent comebacks from veterans like Alexander Volkanovski have reignited hope that Whittaker could still rise to champion status. Now, with recovery underway and motivation intact, the Aussie star seems poised for one last charge toward UFC gold and redemption. The fight will take place this Saturday, and Whittaker has a monumental task in order to keep his dreams alive.

Robert Whittaker talks about his opponent for UFC Abu Dhabi 

In Reinier de Ridder’s most recent bout, he stunned the crowd by brutally defeating Bo Nickal, who came in as the heavy betting favorite. Despite Nickal’s wrestling pedigree and undefeated record, RDR systematically dismantled his strategy, controlling clinch exchanges and delivering punishing knees. The fight ended in the second round with a devastating liver knee that dropped Nickal, forcing a referee stoppage. 

Reinier de Ridder beats Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines
Reinier de Ridder beats Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines (via X)

Fans were shocked as de Ridder handed Nickal his first career loss, derailing the hype train around the rising wrestling prospect. This emphatic victory catapulted de Ridder’s UFC standing, showcasing his dominance and setting up a potential title showdown next. During the interview with Ariel Helwani, Robert Whittaker talked about something similar ahead of facing RDR this Saturday. 

He (RDR) is a good fighter… In hindsight, him fighting Bo Nickal was more about how good is Bo, rather than how good RDR is. RDR has shown the world a lot of times how good he is. I’m looking to get in there, get my hands on him and make short work of him but I have been training for a 25-minute slug fest.

Robert Whittaker continued.

De Ridder has an elite background in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, making him a nightmare for most middleweight contenders. With multiple world titles in ONE Championship, he’s proven his dominance across weight classes through submissions and intelligent grappling control. His diverse skill set could pose serious problems for Whittaker, especially if the fight goes to the ground early on.

Meanwhile, the Australian fighter’s striking experience is undeniable, but RDR’s ground mastery may neutralize it and dictate the fight’s tempo. With a win, ‘Bobby Knuckles’ can definitely put himself in the discussions for a title shot or at least a title eliminator against other top contenders.

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