Wrestling to UFC for Whittaker

ROBERT Whittaker will defend his middleweight title at UFC 225 in June – only eight weeks after wrestling for Australia at the Commonwealth Games.

Whittaker has officially signed off on a contract to fight Cuban Yoel Romero in Chicago on June 10, officially the first defence of his gold strap.

As a result, the 27-year-old Sydneysider will effectively transition straight from chasing Games gold, in the 97kg division, to a fight camp for the Windy City showdown.

Whittaker insisted his shock wrestling tilt, which takes place on the Gold Coast next month, will help rather than hinder his MMA rise.

Asked if the Games could impact on a showdown with the fighter dubbed “Soldier of God’’ Whittaker replied: “No chance. What better way to prepare for Romero than with Commonwealth Games wrestling competition?”

Romero was angling for a fight in Miami but Whittaker was intent on Chicago.