Robert Whittaker has a clear vision for the conclusion of his remarkable fighting career.
Known as “The Reaper,” Whittaker is set to face Reinier de Ridder on July 26th in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi. This is an important middleweight bout, pitting the former UFC champion against de Ridder, who holds a 3-0 record in the promotion since 2024.
Whittaker recognizes that even with a win against de Ridder, securing another title shot is still likely a few fights away. In an interview with FOX Sports Australia, he described his ideal path to retirement.
“Four fights,” Whittaker stated. “I see the end approaching. I aim for four more bouts. I understand the steps required to achieve my goal. Four fights will lead me to a title opportunity, allowing me to conclude my career at the pinnacle – a true fairy tale ending. I am focused on reaching that point.”
While Whittaker has faced setbacks against top-tier opponents recently, he has also successfully turned away several rising contenders who sought to build their profile by beating him. Before his loss to Khamzat Chimaev, he secured consecutive wins against Ikram Aliskerov and Paulo Costa. His record of 6-3 in recent fights includes victories over notable names like Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Till.
Interestingly, Chimaev is scheduled to face champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16th. These are the two fighters who have most recently defeated Whittaker. He expressed interest in rematches with both, but acknowledges the increasing number of contenders he must overcome first.
“The list of potential opponents is becoming quite extensive,” Whittaker commented with a chuckle. “I’m staying active. Reinier is my current focus.”
During the fight against Chimaev, Whittaker sustained a severe injury; a chokehold applied by Chimaev reportedly caused his teeth to be dislodged.
The quick finish in that fight hasn`t discouraged Whittaker, as he feels the rapid conclusion didn`t allow him to showcase his full skill set.
“He was simply the better fighter that day,” Whittaker commented. “While I could easily find excuses, the reality is I have the loss. All you can do is return to training and get back on track. Given how that fight unfolded, I haven`t lost significant confidence in my overall abilities. I remain confident in my striking and knockout power, which I demonstrated against Ikram and Costa before the Chimaev bout. Striking is my strength. [De Ridder] will likely aim for takedowns, and I intend to prevent that.”
