Whittaker just getting started
ROBERT Whittaker is a man on a mission.
He may be the new face of the UFC’s middleweight division but there is absolutely no chance of the New Zealand-born Australian getting ahead of himself.
It has been two weeks since Whittaker became the first Australasian fighter to win a UFC belt, overcoming Cuban colossus Yoel Romero in a five-round war to claim the interim title.
Injured Englishman Michael Bisping is still the current champion but, having disposed of Romero and Jacare Souza – two of the most feared fighters in the division – in the space of three months, there are many who believe Whittaker has already surpassed him.
The brash Brit has only fought once since taking the title off Luke Rockhold last June, and even that was an ugly decision over fellow veteran Dan Henderson.
But as he looks towards a unification bout with Bisping, you won’t catch Whittaker questioning the 38-year-old’s credentials.
‘‘I think Bisping will be the hardest fight to date, to be honest,’’ Whittaker told Sunday News. ‘‘A lot of people don’t give him enough credit – Rockhold didn’t give him the respect he deserved and look what happened to Rockhold.
‘‘He’s good at everything and he’s tough and got cardio. That combination is a hard match-up for anyone.’’
Making Whittaker’s victory over Romero even more remarkable was the fact he did it after aggravating a knee injury in the first round.
At the time it looked to have cruelled his chances as he fell behind on the scorecards only to surge home on the back of a superb display of striking and takedown defence to end Romero’s unbeaten run in the UFC.
Whittaker revealed he had suffered a grade two medial tear in his left knee, meaning a showdown with Bisping is unlikely to take place until next year.
On the plus side, he has managed to avoid surgery but won’t risk returning to the octagon until he is 100 per cent healthy.
‘‘I’ll only fight whenever my body feels good,’’ the 26-year-old said. ‘‘I need to respect my body and I need to give it the time it needs to heal properly otherwise I’m going to shorten the longevity of my own career.’’
After a whirlwind couple of weeks, Whittaker’s achievement has gradually sunk in.
He has certainly noticed a boost in his public profile as the Australian mainstream media have rushed to get a piece of the Sydney-based striker. There was also a congratulatory message from Hollywood star Robert Downey jnr.
The down-to-earth fighter appreciates the attention but, for a man who regularly holds clinics for youths at his gym, more important is the exposure his GETTY IMAGES achievement has brought to the sport.
‘‘That’s always been one of my biggest goals, to make MMA explode here and try and better the sport, not just for myself but all MMA athletes.
‘‘I feel like we’re a bit behind but we’re really starting to catch up now. The professionalism and the talent pool has grown exponentially, the gyms are getting better, the shows are getting better, it’s just great for the sport.’’
The publicity would go to a whole new level if the Bisping fight was staged in Australia, as has been suggested.
UFC president Dana White came out in support of the idea following the win over Romero and Bisping, whose wife is Australian, is also on board.