Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker is less than three weeks away from fighting Reinier de Ridder in the main event of the UFC’s latest excursion to Abu Dhabi.
At 34 years old with 34 matches under his belt, the former UFC middleweight champion is a slight favorite heading into the match. However, Whittaker is already plotting his exit from the sport. In a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia, he told the outlet that his “dream” is to retire after four more matches.
“Four fights,” Whittaker told FOX Sports Australia. “I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want four more, that’s me. I see the stepping stones needed to do what I want to do. Four fights gets me into that title shot, gets me into a position to finish on top, to have that fairy tale ending. I’m working towards it.”
Despite his most recent loss to Khamzat Chimaev, Whittaker has proven to be a formidable foe in recent years. He’s emerged victorious in six of his last nine matches, picking up wins against Ikram Aliskerov, Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, Paulo Costa, and Darren Till. Still, he hopes to get redemption in potential rematches with the last two men to have beaten him — Khamzat Chimaev and UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis. If Whittaker gets his way, his redemption arc would include winning a world title, which du Plessis and Chimaev are set to fight for in August.
