Issue 139
March 2016
After showing the world he’s a genuine 185lb contender, Robert Whittaker isn’t looking for favors in his 2016 quest for UFC gold.
Dialogue
Robert Whittaker, UFC middleweight
Alias: the reaper
Age: 25
Team: PMA Super
Martial Arts Record: 15-4
As a welterweight, Robert Whittaker was a fun addition to the UFC roster. An aggressive, proven fight-finisher; he showed flashes of potential but ultimately failed to build on his TUF Smashes tournament success, carding a 2-2 record in his first 14 months in the Octagon. But a switch to middleweight in June 2014 unearthed the Australian’s true fighting potential. And on the back of a 4-0 run, the 25-year-old from New South Wales now finds himself ranked inside the 185lb top 10 with genuine title aspirations for 2016.
Q. After your spectacular 185lb success, do you kick yourself now for staying at welterweight for so long?
A. Definitely. Growing up I knew I would always have to move up to middleweight at some point. I started my fighting career when I was 18 and the weight cut was so much easier. I won an Australian title at welterweight, and The Ultimate Fighter Smashes tournament too. Plus I had people telling me that being big for the weight class was always an advantage. But it got to a point were it was really starting to affect my fight day. The cuts were getting outrageously large and I had to have those bad experiences with the sauna and the weight loss to force my hand a bit to move up to the middleweight division.
Q. Who helped you make that decision?
A. I sat down with my coaches and my father and we made that decision as a team. They knew as well as I did it was time. I suggested the move and I never really had any complaints from anybody. After all, I’m the one who was sitting in the sauna, dehydrated and deflated a day or two before a fight, and then had to get motivated to compete. It got to a point were I was more worried about making weight than competing. The thought process when you’re locked in a sauna at times like that is exhausting and I’d had enough of it.
Q. Has your development been as much mental as it’s been physical?
A. The move to middleweight finally allowed my body to grown into its natural state. In some ways I was inhibiting my maturity by staying at 170lb and so once I moved up everything came into balance or something. And that’s one of the major reasons behind my success at 185lb. I’m clearly a more natural middleweight. I’m certainly much stronger now and I can absorb more punches too. I’m finally in the right place for my body and that’s why I’m having so much fun. My confidence levels have risen dramatically as I trust my body to be able to perform at 100% now.
Q. Has the change in division helped your speed, footwork and razor-sharp countering left hand come into their own?
A. It’s all about the move up. Previously my fight camps were all about the weight cut, all about my calorie count and all about being ready for the weigh-ins. The fight had become an afterthought. Now I’m fully fueled for every session of every day. I’m focusing a lot more on the technical side of things and I can feel myself improving day by day as my focus in purely on fighting – and fighting on a full stomach too. It’s really night and day to what my training camps used to be like.
Q. What was the atmosphere like at UFC 193 in Melbourne, fighting in front of 56,000 Aussie fans?
A. It was absolutely unreal. To walk out and compete in front of that many homegrown fans who were all cheering for me – it was a special night. To have that many people all in one place, rooting for you was absolutely electrifying.
Q. You jumped on Uriah Hall from the opening bell. Was the game plan to start fast or did the occasion fire you up?
A. It’s always part of my plan to take my fight to my opponent. But the crowd definitely switched me on a little bit faster. There was no way I was losing that fight to anybody. It was too big an occasion for Australian MMA.
Q. In Melbourne you utilized some powerful leg kicks to slow Hall down and pound him up, something we’ve not seen too much from you before. Was that specific for him or is that your own game developing?
A. I’ve always been good a throwing kicks but in the past I’ve been guilty of just wanting to go in there and knock people’s heads off! But when I want to be I’m a pretty technical fighter. I believe I’ve got pretty widespread skills and I’m happy for a fight to go anywhere. So attacking the legs of Hall, as he’s so fast on his feet and throws fast and dangerous kicks. So the best way to take that away from him is to chop away at those legs and feet. You take the legs away from him and you take away the strongest facet of his game.
Q. You were originally booked to fight Michael Bisping in Melbourne before he withdrew due to injury. Were you ever asked to face him in London?
A. I honestly have no idea what the processes are in terms of who fights who behind the scenes. I just put my hand up to fight whoever the UFC put in front of me, and I’m grateful for every fight they give me.
Q. Bisping is now set to fight Anderson Silva, but is that a fight you still want in 2016?
A. I’ve got no real desire to fight Michael Bisping, I just want to fight the best in the world. If the UFC sees fit to match me with the winner of that fight then, of course, I’ll be down for that. Both those guys have got awesome records. But honestly, I’ll fight anybody in the top 10, anybody who has a reputation as being a great fighter – that’s who I would like to face most. And let’s face it, both those guys are certainly up there.
Q. What do you look for in an opponent?
A. I just look for tough and hard fights. I want to get to the end of every year and be able to look back and be proud of the fights I’ve taken. I need to be able to look my friends in the eye and tell them how tough a fight was and be proud of that. Obviously, right now, Luke Rockhold is at the top of the food chain and he has to be the ultimate final destination. But all I want to do is keep working my way towards that and if that’s the way I’m headed then I’m happy.
Aussie rules!
Q. After you won TUF: The Smashes, you trained at Tristar in Montreal. Do you still go over to Canada regularly?
A. I went over there just to test the waters really, to see what it would be like training overseas and in a different environment. I took a lot from it. It was a really positive and welcoming experience. But I really longed for home. I found that mentally and emotionally I’m just so much stronger when I’m training at home, doing my fight camps around my friends and family – around the people that genuinely care for me. And that’s made a huge impact on my last four fights.
It’s tough at the top
Q. Did you tip Luke Rockhold to beat Chris Weidman in December?
A. I knew it was going to be a close fight. Weidman’s ability was never in question, but I also knew Rockhold is an absolute deadly weapon. It was a great performance from him. And I was impressed with (Yoel) Romero too. But again, he’s like a super athlete, an Olympian. In the top 10 they can all go either way. Everyone wants it. Everyone has got the tools to win any fight so you just have to be as prepared as you can and hope that it’s your night.
