Whittaker eyes U

IT seems that every time Robert Whittaker has stepped into the octagon lately, he’s faced the biggest test of his burgeoning UFC career.

Last time out it was the decorated grappler Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza who was supposed to be a bridge too far for the New Zealand-born Aussie. The fight before that, as he headlined a UFC card for the first time, it was Derek Brunson.

Even going back to his win over Uriah Hall in front of a record attendance at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium two years ago, no matter which high-profile opponent the matchmakers roll out Whittaker just keeps knocking them down.

Well, here he goes again as the 26-year-old takes yet another step up in Las Vegas next Sunday against No1 middleweight contender Yoel Romero in the comain event of UFC 213.

With champion Michael Bisping sidelined by injury, the UFC have raised the stakes by putting an interim belt up for grabs, giving Whittaker the opportunity to become the first fighter from either Australia or New Zealand to hold a title in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation.

Riding a sensational sevenfight win streak, Whittaker has reached this point by maintaining a stone-cold focus and keeping calm and composed.

As he prepares to break new ground in Australasian MMA, don’t expect that to change.

‘‘It’s just another fight and just another name,’’ Whittaker told Fairfax Media.

‘‘It’s a hard fight and I’ve got to show my opponent the respect he deserves but it’s just another fight for me. I’ve gone back to training and did the same things and I’m going to step in there and perform like I always have.’’

Whittaker (19-4) is just the second Kiwi to challenge for a UFC title after Mark Hunt, who was defeated by Fabricio Werdum for the heavyweight interim belt three years ago. The only other Australian to reach a title fight, light-heavyweight Elvis Sionsic, lost to Tito Ortiz in 2001.

Born to a Kiwi mother and Australian father, Whittaker has lived most of his life across the Tasman but is fiercely proud of his Maori heritage.

And as his tattoos show – one of the Southern Cross and the other a Maori design symbolising his family’s journey – Whittaker will be flying the flag for both countries next week.

‘‘I was completely raised in Australia but I’m super proud of my roots there (New Zealand),’’ he said. ‘‘It’s no secret where I get my strength from and you can see every time I get in there.’’

A former winner of the The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show, it has not always been smooth sailing for the Sydney-based striker.

Indeed, the position he finds himself now is a far cry from where he was in February, 2014, when consecutive defeats left him with a 2-2 record.

Whittaker credits a heart-toheart with coach Fabricio Itte for igniting his phenomenal run, which began with a unanimous decision victory over American Mike Rhodes during the UFC’s first show in New Zealand later that year.

‘‘It was probably the beginning of that streak where I sat down with Fabricio and he told me, ‘mate, I expect you to be champion and I expect more than that’.

‘‘Then the realisation of that dawned on me and now I expect more than that.’’

Following his win in Auckland Whittaker made what has turned out to be the most important decision of his career and move

It’s no secret where I get my strength from.’