Robert Whittaker on Tough Fight With Yoel Romero: ‘I Needed That’

Robert Whittaker is grateful to have overcome a five-round war with Yoel Romero.

Last night (July 8), Whittaker battled Romero for the interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title. “The Reaper” took a unanimous decision victory and the gold inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to close UFC 213.

Speaking with Megan Olivi, Whittaker said having the type of fight he had with Romero was crucial for his career:

“I feel this was an important fight to have. (I) had some obstacles I had to get through. It was a really trying fight. It was a hard fight, it wasn’t a fight that I finished early. It was a fight that was hard-fought and hard-won. I think I needed that right now. Was it the performance I wanted? No, I like going in there, not getting touched and getting out in the first minute. That just gives me something to work on. I’m gonna go back to the drawing board, stick in the program and just get better.”

The newly crowned interim champ expressed his excitement in having a unification bout with Michael Bisping down the line.

“It’s gonna be a hard match-up. I feel like it’s fate. We were supposed to fight another time and it was called off. So, I really do feel like this is fate. I think that’s gonna be a massive clash. Australia and England always have a fun rivalry, the best of times. So, I think this is gonna be an absolute blockbuster.”

Related News

Top Stories

UFC Store

Stipe Miocic Makes His Pick For The Current Best Heavyweight — And It’s Not Jon Jones

Don't tell Jon Jones, but former UFC champion Stipe Miocic sees a prominent name...

Coach Eric Nicksick Gives Brutal Assessment Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘To Show Up And Do That…Uninspiring’

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been receiving plenty of flak for his...

Fans Amused By A ‘Smashed’ Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 312 Victory

UFC star Dricus Du Plessis has gained popularity for not just his unorthodox fighting...

Tatiana Suarez Breaks Her Silence Days On From UFC 312 Defeat To Zhang Weili

UFC women's strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez has issued her first statement after falling short...

Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad continues to step up talk of a push for...

Daniel Cormier Downplays Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Still Has Work At Middleweight’

Daniel Cormier was cageside as Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title for...

Joe Rogan Calls For Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Next, Says ‘Who Cares’ About Only 1 Title Defense

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan knows what he wants to see next from featherweight...

Luke Rockhold Slams Sean Strickland For ‘B*tching Out’ After Nose Break vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland continues to be the recipient of criticism for...

VIDEO: UFC 312 Winner Takes Page Out Of Tai Tuivasa’s Book With Post-Fight Celebration In Sydney

Heavyweight fan favorite Tai Tuivasa may not have been able to bring out his...