“He’s trying to get me to accept the fight injured, on short notice, with all odds against me,” Robert Whittaker talks about Israel Adesanya

“He’s trying to get me to accept the fight injured, on short notice, with all odds against me,” Robert Whittaker talks about Israel Adesanya

Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya

The UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is moving back to his division after facing the first loss of his MMA career against Jan Blachowicz, to defend his title against Marvin Vettori. But for fans, it was hard to believe that this match isn’t against Robert Whittaker.

Although, after this fight was booked the former Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker clarified that this much was first offered to him. But Israel Adesanya wants to fight in June and there is no chance Whittaker can take this fight on such short notice.

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Robert Whittaker just fought on the 18th April main event against the former interim Middleweight champion Kelvin Gastelum. Now he has to stay in two weeks’ isolation after going back to his home country and due to this, he can’t prepare for this fight so soon.

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In his latest interview with ESPN, Whittaker says, “More or less, I was offered the fight about an hour after my fight with Gastelum, There was just no way, physically, I could do that.”

“Not only do I have injuries from that last fight to deal with, but I also have to fly home to Australia, and then two weeks in mandatory isolation. I have to see how my body was feeling, and then I’d have to prepare; all by June. It was impossible.”

Robert Whittaker is aiming to fight the winner of Adesanya vs Vettori 2

Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker

After Robert Whittaker declined to fight Adesanya, UFC gave chance to Marvin Vettori to face Izzy in a rematch. Since his loss to Adesanya, Whittaker has been flawless and he is clearing out the division.

He also accused Izzy to try to fight him on short notice so that he can’t give his 100%. Robert Whittaker added, “I can see what Izzy is trying to do, He’s trying to get me to accept the fight injured, on short notice, with all odds against me, but there was just no way I could get there physically.”

“I do want that fight, and my next fight will be for the title. It has to be. He was just really adamant about fighting on that date and I can’t do it. I’m happy to fight the winner after.”

Now Whittaker is headed back to Australia and aiming to face the winner of Israel Adesanya vs Marvin Vettori 2.

Also Read: “It was so weird, I just pictured Anderson Silva,” Uriah Hall opens about Chris Weidman’s leg injury.

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