‘Send contract’: Twist to UFC blockbuster
ROBERT Whittaker expects to sign a UFC 271 title blockbuster within days, with the Australian’s team saying a February showdown with middleweight champ Israel Adesanya is the “very likely” option.
Whittaker’s agent, Titus Day, said on Friday rumours suggesting the headliner, slated for UFC 270 January, would be put back a month.
Day said the delay was due to Adesanya being unable to return to New Zealand in January because of Covid quarantine restrictions.
UFC officials are expected
delay the hyped middleweight title rematch to ensure he can return home to New Zealand without issue.
“So UFC 271 is now the most likely date,” Day said of the February 13 card.
“Very likely, in fact.
“And we’ve told the UFC to send the contracts.
“Rob is ready to go.”
Only last month, UFC president Dana White suggested January was the expected date for a rematch between the rivals, who first fought in 2019 before 60,000 fans at Melbourne’s Marvel Arena.
Initially, White wanted the middleweight stars to headline next month’s UFC 268 Madison Square Garden card.
Should Whittaker win the rematch, and become Australia’s second reigning UFC champ alongside Alex Volkanovski, a third fight would almost certainly be held in Australia next year.
The change means Whittaker will now be able to spend almost his fight camp preparing out of a new Smeaton Grange gym which is being billed as Australia’s premier fight gym.
Day also confirmed his fighter would spend part of this camp sparring with undefeated Australian boxer Tim Tszyu, who has a fight booked against Japanese rival Takeshi Inoue in Sydney on November 17.