Robert Whittaker News
Robert Whittaker vs Kelvin Gastelum set to headline April 17 event
Cole Shelton - March 16, 2021
Robert Whittaker will still headline the April 17 card after all. Late Monday night, it was revealed Paulo Costa was out of his fight against Whittaker due to ongoing complications from COVID-19. The hope for the Brazilian was to push the fight back a couple of weeks. However, that will not be the case. According to Contreas Legaspi and later confirmed by ESPN, Gastelum has agreed to step up on short notice to fight Whittaker.
Robert Whittaker and team request title rematch with Israel Adesanya after Paulo Costa fight falls apart
Adam D Martin - March 16, 2021
Team Robert Whittaker has requested a title rematch with UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after the Paulo Costa fight fell apart. Whittaker was set to fight Costa in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card on April 17, with the winner of that fight likely set to fight Adesanya for the belt. However, Costa was forced to pull out of the fight due to illness, which leaves Whittaker without an opponent. But if the Aussie’s team has their way, then they’ll be next for Adesanya either way.
Paulo Costa forced out of UFC fight with Robert Whittaker
Christopher Taylor - March 15, 2021
Paulo Costa will no longer be fighting former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on April 17 as previously planned. After initial report from Ag.Fight suggested that the Costa vs. Whittaker bout was in jeopardy, MMAFighting has since confirmed that ‘The Eraser’ will no longer be competing at UFC Fight Night 188.
Robert Whittaker in phenomenal shape ahead of Paulo Costa fight
Tom Taylor - February 17, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is in phenomenal shape ahead of his upcoming showdown with Paulo Costa. Whittaker lost the UFC middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in 2019, but has since rebounded with a pair of impressive decision victories over top contenders in Darren Till and Jared Cannonier. He’ll look to make it three in a row—and make his claim to another title shot truly undeniable—when he takes on the recent title challenger Costa on April 17.
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa opening betting odds released
Adam Martin - January 27, 2021
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming middleweight bout between top contenders Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. It was announced this week that Whittaker and Costa will meet in a five-round, non-title main event at a UFC Fight Night event scheduled for April 17. Both men had conveyed interest in an interim or vacant title fight with UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya fighting up at 205lbs in his next bout, but the promotion decided to just make it a non-title five-rounder, with the winner likely in line for a title shot.
Report | Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa headlines UFC Fight Night card in April
Adam Martin - January 25, 2021
A middleweight bout between contenders Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa is reportedly being targeted for a UFC Fight Night card on April 17. Sherdog.com first reported that Whittaker vs. Costa is being targeted for the April 17 date, though a location has not been confirmed yet. The report suggests Las Vegas as a possible destination for the event. But with coronavirus-related travel restrictions, especially for international fighters, UFC president Dana White recently admitted that he isn’t sure where fights are going to be held in the coming months.
Robert Whittaker jumps past Conor McGregor in latest 'UFC Fight Island' rankings update
Christopher Taylor - January 19, 2021
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has leaped past Conor McGregor in the latest UFC Fight Island rankings update. The UFC updated their official rankings ahead of this week’s highly anticipated pay-per-view event, which is headlined by a rematch between Dustin Poirier and the aforementioned Irishman.
Team Paulo Costa "terrorizing" Dana White for Robert Whittaker matchup
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
UFC president Dana White said that Team Paulo Costa has been “terrorizing” him to book a matchup against Robert Whittaker. Whittaker and Costa are the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, respectively, in the UFC middleweight division, behind only champion Israel Adesanya. With the champ moving up to 205lbs for his next fight, it’s put the 185lbs division in a bit of a tricky situation moving forward. There’s no guarantee Adesanya will even return to the weight class should he defeat Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight belt at UFC 259, so the rest of the top contenders are essentially stuck in limbo at the moment.
Report | Paulo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker targeted for March, interim title possible says Wallid Ismail
Adam Martin - December 10, 2020
MMA manager Wallid Ismail says the UFC is targeting an important middleweight matchup between Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker for March. Ismail told Portal Do Vale Tudo that the UFC has already offered the fight to Costa and Whittaker for March. The manager said that Costa has agreed to the fight and now they are just waiting on Whittaker to sign off on his end of the deal. Ismail also said there is the possibility that the fight could be for the interim middleweight belt.
Derek Brunson calls for a rematch with Robert Whittaker: "That first fight was disrespectful"
Cole Shelton - November 18, 2020
Derek Brunson is hoping to get a rematch with Robert Whittaker. Ever since Brunson pulled off an upset win over Edmen Shahbazyan he has been looking to fight a top contender. He has called out Paulo Costa but that appears unlikely to happen so the top-10 contender is looking to rematch Whittaker.
Robert Whittaker explains "problem" with Khabib vs. GSP fight
Tom Taylor - November 12, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker sees a “problem” with a potential superfight between Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov, the reigning UFC lightweight champ, and St-Pierre, the former welterweight and middleweight champ, are universally regarded as two of the best fighters of all time, and have been linked to a fight for many years. Even with both men retired, there’s still widespread interest in their potential pairing.
Robert Whittaker explains when he's likely to "bow out" of MMA competition
Tom Taylor - November 11, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker isn’t sure when he’ll retire from mixed martial arts, but he certainly seems to have a rough sense. During a recent appearance on MMA Fighting‘s What The Heck show, Whittaker weighed in on the career of Anderson Silva, who competed in his final UFC bout late last month at the age of 45.
Robert Whittaker: UFC "twisted my words around," title shot is "my right"
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker wants a chance to reclaim the belt, and doesn’t know why UFC President Dana White suggested otherwise. Whittaker is now 2-0 since losing the middleweight title to the division’s reigning champ Israel Adesanya, having rebounded with a pair of decision wins over top contenders Darren Till and Jared Cannonier.
Paulo Costa confirms fight with Robert Whittaker "very close" to being booked
Adam Martin - November 4, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa confirmed that a fight against former champion Robert Whittaker is “very close” to being booked. Costa recently called out Whittaker for what he said would be an “amazing fight” for the fans. Whittaker in turn said that he wasn’t interested in Costa at the moment, but it looks like the UFC has different plans. Speaking on his YouTube channel in a recent live chat with his fans, Costa confirmed that he’s deep into discussions with the UFC about the Whittaker fight, adding that a few details need to still be ironed out.
Robert Whittaker reacts to callout from Paulo Costa: “He just lost his contention to the title”
Harry Kettle - November 4, 2020
UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker has issued his response after a recent callout by divisional rival Paulo Costa. Whittaker seems to be the next man in line for a shot at Israel Adesanya’s Middleweight Championship after his two decision wins over fellow contenders Darren Till and Jared Cannonier. Costa, on the other hand, was decisively beaten by Adesanya in a one-sided title fight back at UFC 253.
Israel Adesanya understands why Robert Whittaker didn't force rematch: "I’ll probably see him again in New Zealand"
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2020
Israel Adesanya knows he and Robert Whittaker will fight again in the near future. After Whittaker defeated Jared Cannonier at UFC 254 to become the No. 1 contender, many figured the rematch with Adesanya would be next. However, Whittaker made it clear he would not fight until March as he wanted to spend the holidays with his family.
Robert Whittaker on "phenomenal" Khabib Nurmagomedov: "I wouldn’t want to take a fight with him"
Tom Taylor - October 29, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has some high praise for UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov—even conceding he wouldn’t want to fight him. Whittaker and Nurmagomedov both returned to the cage at UFC 254 last Saturday. Whittaker defeated Jared Cannonier in a perceived middleweight No. 1 contender fight in the co-main event, while Nurmagomedov defended the lightweight belt with a submission win over Justin Gaethje in the main event, and announced his retirement immediately thereafter.
Robert Whittaker calls rematch with Israel Adesanya "a hard fight"
Adam Martin - October 26, 2020
Top contender Robert Whittaker called a potential rematch against UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya “a hard fight.” After defeating Jared Cannonier in the co-main event of UFC 254, UFC president Dana White said that Whittaker would likely be the next opponent for Adesanya. Of course, these two previously met at UFC 243 in October 2019. Whittaker was the champion heading into that fight but he lost his belt to Adesanya by knockout. Since then, Whittaker has won two straight fights against Cannonier and Darren Till to jump back into title contention, while Adesanya defended his belt against Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa.