“I’m not in it to win, I’m in it to hurt Costa,” Robert Whittaker makes STUNNING prediction for UFC 298 fight after coming off brutal loss to new champion Dricus Du Plessis

At UFC 298, the oft-canceled bout between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa will finally take place. Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) takes on ‘Borrachinha’ (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in the Feb. 17 co-main event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The #3 185lbs contender has been out of the Octagon since the main card of UFC 290 during International Fight Week. Newly crowned champ Dricus Du Plessis had stopped him in their slated title eliminator. Now, Whittaker has a whole new resolve going into his next matchup.

Dricus Du Plessis had stopped Whittaker in the second round via a TKO. Whittaker thus suffered his first division loss at middleweight (outside his two skids to former titleholder Israel Adesanya). Now, the fighter is ready to ‘hurt‘ his opponent later this month. Speaking at the UFC Q&A session at the UFC 298 pre-fight conference, here’s what he said:

I'm coming into this fight hungrier than ever...I've been really focussing on trying to bring that 'animal' back...I'm not just in this fight to win, I'm in it to hurt Costa, and I think that mentality is a powerful thing to have...

Robert Whittaker said

Paulo Costa has had five fights pulled or rebooked in the past few years – including against Whittaker at UFC 284. The fighter has pulled out of this match alone on two separate occasions, due to failed negotiations. However, despite Costa’s inactivity, Whittaker has remained unfazed in the lead-up. Costa prompted The MMA Hour’s Ariel Helwani yet again and mentioned not signing yet.

However, Whittaker hasn’t really been worried about Costa pulling out of UFC 298 at all. The underlying reason presents itself as his killer demeanor. Speaking with MMA journo Mike Owens of MiddelEasy.com, ‘The Reaper’ has nudged on closing out UFC 298 early by hurting Costa to the fullest extent. Apparently, he still holds firm to that notion.

Robert Whittaker believes himself to be a better fighter than Dricus Du Plessis

Ex-middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker faces Paulo Costa next at UFC 298, in a re-worked clash. Following a February fallout last year, Whittaker is ready for the opponent, vowing to hurt him. The middleweight said as much, when Whittaker, Alex Volkanvoski, and Justin Tafa attended the UFC 298 Media Day conference.

Speaking to a plethora of assembled journalists, Whittaker also weighed in on Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) recently edged out Sean Strickland with a split decision win (47-48, 48-47, 48-47), that left a multitude of fans heartbroken.

Previously, speaking at his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker had lauded Du Plessis on wanting it more and thus bagging the title gold. Now, here’s what the fighter had to say about the divisional peer:

Dricus is a hungry guy, man. You saw in his last fight. I think I underestimated that hunger. I still believe I beat him 9 times out of 10, I still believe I’m a better fighter than he is … but mate, big strong guy that’s hungry and willing to leave it all there? You need to match that. I feel I didn’t do that in that last fight...

Robert Whittaker said

While he commends ‘Stillknocks’, he still thinks of himself as the better among the two. With Du Plessis now holding champion status, the #3 best middleweight solemnly promised to not underestimate the champion’s mettle anymore.

Should Robert Whittaker manage to win against Costa in about two weeks, he is sure to try and climb his way up to title contention against Du Plessis, in a rehash of their UFC 290 showdown.

In case you missed it:

• “Not pulling out” – After giving UFC 298 sabotage-scare, Paulo Costa HILARIOUSLY assures fans of Robert Whittaker fight
• “No bullsh**!” Dricus du Plessis SHOCKED after learning Dana White believed Sean Strickland won the fight

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