The last two fights of Robert Whittaker’s career have been two grueling five-rounders against the hard-hitting Yoel Romero. Credit to “Bobby Knuckles”, he was able to get the job done in both instances, as he continues to reign as the UFC’s undisputed middleweight champion.
But for next title challenger Kelvin Gastelum, Whittaker may not be the same fighter after going through those wars against Romero.
“I don’t know if he’s going to be the same fighter after these fights,” Gastelum said of Whittaker during the TUF 28 media day. “After these wars that he’s been in. It takes a toll on the body. So, we’ll see how he comes out after this hand surgery that he had.”
Whittaker, of course, disagrees, as he considers himself to be an unstoppable force at 185 pounds.
“I think it’s given Romero a bit of a chip to think that he changed me as a fighter after fighting him twice,” Whittaker said at his own TUF 28 scrum (transcript via MMAjunkie). “He was a tough fight. He was a tough opponent. I had my mettle tested.”
“If anything, I think it should be disheartening for every other fighter in the division. No one has what it takes to put me away.”
Whittaker, however, is not expected to see action for the rest of the year, as he heals from the right hand that he broke during the first round of the Romero fight at UFC 225 in early June.
Get the latest gear
