Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has discussed his disappointment following his loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290, expressing regrets over failing to execute his training in the bout, but plans to use the unsettling experience as a springboard to improving his performance, stating his intent to finish his career undefeated from this point, and expressing openness to potentially facing Roman Dolidze or having a rematch with du Plessis.
Former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, is prepared to leave behind one of the most challenging outcomes in his MMA career. On his YouTube show, he discussed his loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290. Whittaker was defeated by the South African contender with a second-round TKO in a fight that could have granted him a third shot at UFC champion Israel Adesanya. Not mincing his words, Whittaker expressed disappointment at his performance.
Whittaker stated, “I went out there to give my best performance ever, but ended up giving the worst performance of my career.” He stated that the most difficult aspect about the loss was knowing he could do better, expressing that it was his own undoing. Furthermore, he admitted to struggling with pressures of performing rather than those of the opponent or potential injuries. He was disappointed for not showcasing the skills he had diligently practiced for months.
The 32-year-old now finds himself in uncharted territories. Before UFC 290, Whittaker enjoyed an immaculate 12-0 record in the UFC middleweight division against rivals except Adesanya, although he had lost twice to the champion. His fight against Du Plessis was a crucial stepping stone towards clinching a third bout with Adesanya, but it did not turn out as planned. However, losing to Du Plessis does not mean the end of the road for Whittaker. He is ready to channel the disappointment into a motivation to achieve greatness.
Whittaker has even seen the situation from a positive perspective, stating that the defeat serves as a wake-up call for him to address areas of weaknesses that might have caught up with him eventually. Calling it “the kick in the ass” he needed, he now plans to end his career without any more losses. He aims to get back in action as soon as possible with a fight scheduled for 2023, floating the idea of squaring off with Roman Dolidze. However, he also mentioned his interest in a rematch with Du Plessis.