Whittaker ready for dangerous Romero bout
ROBERT Whittaker was just nine years old when Yoel Romero won gold in the 85kg freestyle wrestling at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Seventeen years later a lot has changed. Whittaker isn’t a kid anymore. He’s now a mixed martial arts star.
In that time Romero defected from Cuba, quit wrestling and took up MMA and is one of the most feared strikers in the Octagon.
Romero is so feared some might even argue UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been ducking him, fearful of what he might do.
Whittaker, though, says he doesn’t fear Romero but admits he is dangerous. Come Sunday morning, Whittaker says he will be ready for him.
“It’s a bit surreal, when you put it that way in terms of age that we’re both here and where we have been,” Whittaker said.
“But I am going in there to fight the best Yoel Romero the world has ever seen and come out with the victory.”
Romero might not just be at his best but also the best fighter in the middleweight division.
He has a record of 13-1, the one loss coming in Strikeforce in 2011 to Rafael Cavalcante by knockout and he has won eight straight bouts since.
Whittaker (18-4) has won his last seven and knows it’s going to be a case of both heavy hitters imposing their will on the other as he chases Australia’s first UFC belt.
He says he won’t be changing his strategy to try and test the conditioning of the 40year-old over five rounds.
“I’ll be pushing my game plan constantly. I need to push and pace my game plan on him and control the fight.” Whittaker said.