Robert Whittaker's Next Fight in The UFC
Robert "The Reaper" Whittaker is among the best Middleweights we've seen inside the UFC octagon. Although the title has eluded him throughout the last few years, he's remained one of the most dominant fighters in the division and hasn't fallen outside the Middleweight top 3 since 2017. Despite being in the UFC since 2012, he's just 32 years old, and his last few wins, over names such as Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, and Jared Cannonier, have been some of his most dominant victories yet. Whittaker's never been a trash-talking fighter and often disappears from the spotlight after his bouts, leaving many fans wondering about the future. So let's look at some likely opponents for "The Reaper's" next bout.
Khamat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev caused havoc at Welterweight. After just four wins inside the UFC, he faced off against, at the time, the #2 ranked Welterweight, Gilbert Burns. After a back-and-forth war, Chimaev secured the decision and a place inside the top 5. But since then, he's had one fight against an unranked Kevin Holland after missing weight by 7.5 lbs and requiring an opponent change. To say the fans have been missing Chimaev is an understatement. With a high probability that his next fight will be at Middleweight, he's an ideal candidate for Whittaker, who could use a fresh face in the division.
Dricus Du Plessis
Speaking of fresh faces, Dricus "Stillknocks" Du Plessis has burst into the Middleweight top 15 in the last six months. He first defeated Darren Till by third-round submission at UFC 282, then accepted another ranked fight against Derek Brunson at UFC 285. "Stillknocks" secured the second-round TKO victory and claimed the #6 ranking over Brunson. Although just shy of the top 5, Du Plessis would be a perfect opponent for Whittaker, who's already fought the #1, #3, and #4 ranked contenders.
Paulo Costa
One fight we missed out on at UFC 284 was Whittaker vs. Costa. The two were previously scheduled to meet as the featured bout, but contract negotiations fizzled the matchup. This bout would be an excellent fight for Whittaker next, as he's already fought everyone else inside the top 5 apart from Costa. Furthermore, with both men being incredibly dangerous strikers, it could end up as an electric fight of the night.
Winner/Loser of Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2
Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira will be looking to defeat Israel Adesanya for the second time in MMA at UFC 287 on April 7th. Although Whittaker has faced Adesanya twice already, their second fight was incredibly competitive, with many people believing he won. Pereira is an unfamiliar foe for "The Reaper," and because Whittaker is the #2 ranked contender, you can make an easy case for him to challenge for the Middleweight Championship following 287. Both fighters make sense for Whittaker next, and we could see him face either of these men in the future.
Who do you think the fan-favorite Aussie will fight next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction and thoughts in the comments below.
