Aussie Reaper earns title shot

RISING Australian fighter Robert Whittaker will take a shot at the UFC middleweight title against No. 1 contender Yoel Romero.

With titleholder Michael Bisping injured long- term, Whittaker will fight Cuban star Romero for an interim title created by the UFC. The pair will meet at UFC 213 in Las Vegas on July 8.

Whittaker, 26, was last month elevated three places in the rankings to No. 3 after stopping Brazilian Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza with a secondround onslaught in Kansas City.

New Zealand- born Whittaker, nicknamed “The Reaper”, has won his past seven fights for a 19- 4 win- loss record.