‘I want to beat Izzy’: Aussie UFC star Rob Whittaker wants another crack at Israel Adesanya

One man has proved a roadblock in UFC star Rob Whittaker’s career, but the Aussie wants another crack at beating his fiercest rival.

Aussie UFC star Rob Whittaker is holding out for one last shot at Israel Adesanya, and believes he can reclaim the belt that was once his.

Whittaker takes on Dricus Du Plessis on Sunday at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, and is favoured to get the win against the dangerous South African.

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“He’s a guy that is well-rounded, tough athlete,” Whittaker told news.com.au.

“The underdog with absolutely nothing to lose. He’s a dangerous mix and I respect the danger that he brings. To show respect I’ve trained like an absolute madman for the last 14 weeks.”

Whittaker became Australia’s first ever UFC champion in 2017, but had the middleweight belt taken off him when he was knocked out by Adesanya in Melbourne in 2019.

The 32-year-old defeated Darren Till, Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum to earn a rematch with Adesanya, where he produced a far better performance, albeit in a loss via unanimous decision in February last year.

Israel Adesanya has had the better of Rob Whittaker.. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Whittaker wants another crack at Izzy. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

While he’s taking it one fight at a time, Whittaker doesn’t shy away from the fact he wants a trilogy fight with Adesanya, the man who has been the biggest roadblock in his career.

“I want to beat Izzy,” Whittaker said.

“I want to get that belt back. I want to get better as an athlete.

“Yeah definitely, I want to beat him. He’s the only guy in the division who’s beat me. Just as an athlete, as a professional, I want to get that back. He’s the blip on my record.

“He’s the obstacle and the challenge that takes me to new levels and I enjoy the puzzle that he is. I look forward to crossing paths with him again.”

Trilogy fights don’t come around often in UFC and it’s likely a third fight with Adesanya would be his last chance to win back the belt.

The brash Kiwi cemented his status as the middlweight king with a KO win over Alex Pereira earlier this year.

Whittaker said winning as much as he can is the only way to set up a third fight with Adesanya.

“Mate it’s just about winning,” he said. “All roads lead to Rome, you know.”

Motivated by winning and his family, Whittaker has put himself through a gruelling 14-week training camp and is determined to keep improving, even if Adesanya is his ceiling.

“My biggest driver is my family. I have a reason to fight,” he said.

It’s an Aussie takeover in Vegas: Jack Della Maddalena, Kiwi Dan Hooker, Alexander Volkanovski, Robert Whittaker, Shannon Ross and Jimmy Crute. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I’m trying to get my punching, grappling and wrestling one per cent better. And I’ve been doing it every single day, just trying to hit better performances.

“The consistency has taken my game to the next level. I look forward to the test he (Du Plessis) is going to bring on the weekend because that’s how I’m going to grow as a fighter.”

And would he like to fight on home soil at UFC 293 in Sydney in September?

“I’d like to,” he said.

“Nothing is past the weekend right now. That’s all I’ve got my sights set on right now.”

Whittaker is one of five Australians fighting on a stacked Vegas card, with Alex Volkanovski taking on Brazilian Yair Rodriguez for the featherweight title in the main event.

Rising star Jack Della Maddalena, Jimmy Crute and Shannon Ross will also feature on the card.

Originally published as ‘I want to beat Izzy’: Aussie UFC star Rob Whittaker wants another crack at Israel Adesanya