ABU DHABI – Robert Whittaker has been to the highest of the mountain, and he may very well be on the cusp of going again.
And due to that, partially, it’s seemingly the previous UFC middleweight titleholder has discovered a option to keep grounded in pursuit of one other title shot. However he additionally thinks a dramatic change in his life outdoors the game was instrumental.
Determining how you can steadiness MMA with children and household life is what helps set him aside, he thinks.
“The large a part of it’s all about redefining drives and objectives,” Whittaker stated at Wednesday’s media day for UFC 308. “I’ve been within the UFC for a very long time. You don’t see a number of fighters keep within the UFC for so long as I’ve on the caliber and the extent that I’ve been at. I feel I owe a number of that to simply with the ability to redefine my objectives, redefine my drive.”
Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC) on Saturday has simply the newest massive take a look at in his profession when he takes on unbeaten fellow title contender Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) within the UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) co-main occasion at Etihad Enviornment.
Chimaev is greater than a 2-1 favourite on the betting window, and that half is barely new to Whittaker. He’s solely been an underdog as soon as prior to now seven years, and that was his rematch with Israel Adesanya in an try to win again the middleweight title he misplaced to him in 2019.
However the life circumstances Whittker cares most about, he thinks assist him within the cage, too.
“Once I began my profession, I didn’t have children,” Whittaker stated. “So the introduction of children throughout that interval, it’s mind-blowing. And anybody that has children will perceive – it adjustments you. I feel a number of fighters wrestle with change … However I’ve made these adjustments to my household.
“I perceive what’s essential in life. I’ve my priorities straight, and I assume to sum it up, I perceive what I’m preventing for. I battle for my household. It wouldn’t make sense to not spend time with them at the price of preventing.”
Take a look at Whittaker’s full media day interview above.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 308.
Be sure you go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of combined martial arts.
