UFC 272: Robert Whittaker supports shock push to fight Colby Covington in 2022
Robert Whittaker may have lost his last fight, but Australia’s first UFC champ will sell out Aussie stadium with shock new rival.
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Robert Whittaker is backing a surprise push to have him headline a UFC blockbuster against Colby Covington in 2022, saying: “That fight sells out every Australian venue and could be the best route for both of us”.
Only weeks on from his contentious UFC title loss to middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, Whittaker is already making plans for what could be consecutive bouts against Italian Marvin Vettori, then Covington.
Already considered the most polarising fighter in the UFC, Covington now finds himself in one of the company’s greatest grudge matches at UFC 272 in Las Vegas this Sunday — squaring off against former housemate, sparring partner and best mate Jorge Masvidal.
Should ‘Chaos’ win, the outspoken American has already hyped a follow up fight with another former ATT training partner, Dustin Poirier – just as Whittaker is already pencilled in for a showdown with Vettori, the No. 3 middleweight contender, in July.
Yet after that?
Should both men win, News Corp can reveal both the UFC and Team Whittaker are keen for Covington, especially given the American has already spoken publicly about moving up from welterweight to challenge Adesanya.
Watch UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 6th March from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
In an interview with Yahoo Sports this week, UFC president Dana White dismissed talk of a title fight between Covington and Adesanya, but revealed he was keen to pit the self-described ‘King of Miami’ against Whittaker.
Better, Bobby Knuckles is in, too.
Apart from being “excited” by a Covington fight, Whittaker said the bout was likely the best option for two elite fighters who currently share the same predicament.
Just as Whittaker has lost twice to Adesanya, yet still remains well ahead of every other contender, so Covington has also dropped two fights against UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman – but remains easily best of the rest.
“So a fight with Colby Covington definitely excites me,” Whittaker said.
“Right now, we’re both in a similar pickle.
“We’re both still hanging around in our respective divisions, a lot higher than the rest of the field, waiting (to get another title shot).
“So making some money in the meantime could be the best route for both of us.
“A fight with Colby would be a real crowd pleaser, a big money maker for the UFC, and it sells out every Australian venue.
“So it’s on the cards if he wants it.”
Whittaker’s manager Titus Day agreed a fight between Whittaker and Covington would be an easy Australian sell out, and plans to speak with UFC executives about exactly that.
“If Colby wants to come up and test himself at middleweight, Rob is definitely ready,” he said.
First up however, Whittaker confirmed his next fight would almost certainly be against Vettori, with July the date he wants.
“I think Vettori will be next,” Australia’s first UFC champ said. “He’s the only (top middleweight contender) I haven’t beaten yet.
“But then after that, Covington is definitely something we could do.
“Obviously any fight involving Colby is a loud one.
“And my fans, they know what they’re getting when they come to watch me fight.”
So as for who wins the headliner on Sunday’s stacked UFC 272 card?
“I think Colby gets it done,” Whittaker said.
“If it were a striking battle, I don’t think Colby holds up too well against Jorge Masvidal.
“But it’s not a striking battle.
“Or at least it’s not just a striking battle.
“So I think Colby takes Jorge down, and grinds him out. We’ve seen already that anyone who is even a slightly worse wrestler, he takes them down and mauls them.”
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Originally published as UFC 272: Robert Whittaker supports shock push to fight Colby Covington in 2022
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