If Robert Whittaker defeats Marvin Vettori, he thinks he deserves another shot against Israel Adesanya.
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The battle between Australian MMA star Robert Whittaker and Italy’s Marvin Vettori has been rescheduled for September 3 at UFC Fight Night Paris, the promotion’s first event in France. It’s a fact. Whittaker (23-6), the No. 1 middleweight contender and the division’s previous champion, was supposed to fight No. 3 Vettori (18-5-1) at UFC 275 in Singapore in a few weeks. However, he was forced to withdraw late last month due to an injury he sustained while training. Whittaker feels justified by his choice to allow his body more time to recuperate, despite Vettori’s “whining” and “moaning” about the fight being postponed at the time, and allegedly pressing for Khamzat Chimaev or Darren Till to step in as a substitute opponent.
We’re back at this.
I think I’m the only 185er that can say that has never pulled out of a fight but anyway smash boys I’ll get you back to back lets do it I’m willing to die just show up @KChimaev @darrentill2 @Mickmaynard2 @AliAbdelaziz00 @danawhite— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) April 20, 2022
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While speaking with Fox Sports Australia Whittaker said, “Just recently it’s finally got to a point where I’m no longer feeling pain in sessions, and that just doubles down on the confirmation that I made the right choice pushing the fight back. I am also lucky that I was able to push the fight back, the same fight, because I’m only just getting into the full swing of training now and the (originally planned) fight is in two weeks. He (Vettori) was just having a whinge, but if there’s anybody who understands loving a good whinge, it’s me,” he laughed.
Whittaker considered his fight with Vettori as a semi-final, hoping that the winner would meet the winner of the UFC 276 bout between reigning champion Israel Adesanya and No. 2 challenger Jared Cannonier in early July. Whitaker continued saying, “Honestly, me and him (Vettori) have nowhere really else to go and that’s why he whinged and moaned a bit because there’s no one else he can fight in his position – I’m the only guy ranked higher than him and so it made really perfect sense for him to wait for his chance. And even though Adesanya has already defeated Whittaker twice, the Australian thinks a trilogy fight could still occur if both men emerge victorious from their next fights.
Israel Adesanya won a unanimous decision against Whittaker in February and successfully defended his title for the fourth time. Whittaker and Vettori have a lot of symmetry, since their only two losses in their past ten fights have both come against Adesanya. According to Whittaker, fighting for the right to take another shot at Adesanya and beat him a third time adds a new depth to their Paris confrontation. And the Australian is confident that his fight with Vettori will end in win for him.
Stephen Thompson declines the quick turnaround fight and wants Usman next.
