Robert Whittaker says ongoing talks with UFC officials have him convinced his next fight will be for the middleweight title – no matter who holds the strap after UFC 287 this weekend.
In huge news for Australian fight fans, Whittaker has told Fox Sports Australia his next opponent will be decided by Sunday’s title blockbuster between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya.
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The Sydneysider is also tipping Pereira, a $2.15 TAB outsider, to defend his crown in the hyped rematch, saying: “I think he has Izzy’s number”.
Apart from taking Adesanya’s title back in November via a shock fifth round finish, Pereira has also beaten the New Zealander twice in kickboxing – one of those also via brutal knockout.
Yet in all three fights, it has also seemed Adesanya was on his way to winning each contest until … well, he wasn’t.
“So who wins this weekend? It’s a hard one,” Whittaker said.
“But given everything I’ve seen, Pereira seems the stronger bet.
“I actually think he’s got Izzy’s number.
“He’s a massive dude. Boasts massive power.
“And I think he takes a lot of confidence from having now beaten Adesanya three times. Three times.
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“He’d already beaten Izzy twice before they fought in smaller gloves.
“And now that they’ve done that, he has an even better gauge. So, yeah, I think Pereira has his number.”
Should the Brazilian defend his UFC middleweight title, Whittaker insists he will then be next in line for a championship showdown.
Yet should Adesanya win, the fighter dubbed Bobby Knuckles also insists he and his great Trans Tasman rival will then undergo a trilogy fight.
Asked what was next for him, Whittaker said: “I’ve been speaking with the UFC and they’ve told me we are waiting until after this weekend.
“So how do I take that?
“It has to be something about me fighting either of those guys.”
So a title fight for you next, regardless of the outcome?
“Yeah, that’s the right conclusion to draw based on what they’ve said,” he continued.
“If Pereira wins, I fight him.
“If Pereira loses, I fight Adesanya.
“Even if the winner of this weekend’s fight wants to take time out, then I fight for an interim title.
“Or maybe Pereira wins and wants to move up like we’ve been hearing about for a while, so then Izzy and I will fight for the vacant title.
“But regardless, my next fight revolves around that middleweight title … and so it should.”
So no concerns an Adesanya win will see he and Pereira then fight for a third time in the UFC – and fifth time overall?
“There won’t be a trilogy between these two,” Whittaker stressed.
“I understand why the UFC do rematches, they’re interesting, good stories.
“But there won’t be a third fight.
“I can’t see them holding up the division that long. That would be a bit much.”
Regardless, Whittaker said he was looking forward to Sunday’s bout, where Adesanya, as challenger, is currently listed as a $1.70 TAB favourite.
“The mental game in this fight is going to be huge,” the Aussie said.
“It will be interesting to see how Israel fights in this fourth fight knowing he’s lost three times and been stopped twice.
“And also how does Pereira go into it knowing he can get his hands on Adesanya, knowing he can stop him?”
