Robert Whittaker has a clear vision for how he wants to conclude his decorated fighting career.
Scheduled for the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, “The Reaper” is set to face Reinier de Ridder. This is a significant clash in the middleweight division, featuring Whittaker, a former UFC champion, against de Ridder, who has maintained an impressive 3-0 record since joining the promotion in 2024.
Whittaker acknowledges that even a victory over de Ridder likely places him several fights away from another title opportunity, a reality he fully understands. In a discussion with FOX Sports Australia, Whittaker outlined his ideal path towards retirement.
“Four fights,” Whittaker stated. “I can see the finish line. I want four more, that`s it for me. I understand the steps I need to take to achieve my goals. Four more fights will put me in contention for the title, allowing me to retire at the top with that `fairy tale ending.` I`m actively working towards this.”
While Whittaker has faced setbacks against the division`s elite recently, he has also successfully turned back numerous rising contenders aiming to use his name as a stepping stone. Before his loss to Khamzat Chimaev, Whittaker secured consecutive wins against Ikram Aliskerov and Paulo Costa. His recent 6-3 stretch includes notable victories over Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Till.
Khamzat Chimaev, one of the two fighters who most recently defeated Whittaker, is scheduled to challenge champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16. Whittaker is keen on rematches with both men, although he recognizes the expanding queue of contenders he must first navigate.
“The list is getting quite long now,” Whittaker remarked with a chuckle. “I`m focused on the work. Reinier is currently my immediate target.”
During the fight against Chimaev, Whittaker sustained a severe injury: a choke applied by Chimaev resulted in his teeth being displaced.
Despite the fight ending quickly, Whittaker remains undiscouraged, feeling he didn`t get the opportunity to demonstrate his full capabilities.
“He was simply the better fighter on that particular day,” Whittaker commented. “I could invent endless excuses, but the reality is I have that loss on my record. The only recourse is to return to the gym and get back on track. Because the fight concluded as it did, I`m not significantly discouraged about my skill set, particularly my striking or knockout power. I approach this upcoming fight with considerable confidence in my ability to perform as I normally do. As I showed against Ikram and Costa before the Chimaev fight, striking is my primary game. He`s likely going to attempt takedowns, and I intend to prevent that.”
