UFC star Robert Whittaker would fight Paul Gallen for $1.5 million – but only if the ex-NRL player defeats Mark Hunt

Robert Whittaker is open to going toe-to-toe with Paul Gallen in a boxing ring if the ex-NRL star beats Mark Hunt. But he’ll demand a hefty fee.

Mark Hunt will take on Paul Gallen this week. Picture: Dan Peled

Australian UFC star Robert Whittaker will demand $1.5 million to make a shock switch to boxing and face undefeated heavyweight Paul Gallen in 2021.

Despite being the UFC middleweight division’s No.1 contender, Whittaker is open to fighting Gallen early next year if the retired NRL footballer beats Mark Hunt at Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night.

However, if Whittaker is to be coaxed into the sporting switch – as Conor McGregor famously was in 2017 – Australia’s first UFC champion will demand double the $750,000 purse Hunt is understood to be earning this week.

Whittaker’s manager Titus Day confirmed that, while his client was open to discussions after being approached by Sydney promoter Matt Rose, it would need to be for seven figures.

Day added the popular middleweight, who walks around at 100kg, could potentially take the Gallen fight while waiting for his UFC title re-match with New Zealand champion Israel Adesanya.

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Robert Whittaker lands a blow to Jared Cannonier in their middleweight bout during the UFC 254 event in October. Picture: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

In the past six years, Whittaker has dropped just one fight – when he lost his gold strap to Adesanya in October 2019.

Since then however, the Sydney father-of-three has bounced back with big wins over hyped Englishman Darren Till and American contender Jared Cannonier.

With wife Sofia due with the couple’s fourth child in January, Whittaker has told UFC president Dana White he will not fight again before March or April.

Initially, that was expected to be a title re-match against Adesanya.

However, with the Kiwi now contemplating a move up in divisions to face UFC light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz, Whittaker could potentially fight Gallen in the interim.

Obviously, the Cronulla great must first get past combat legend Hunt.

“And if he does that, OK, we can talk,” Day said.

Asked about the likelihood of a brief foray into boxing, the agent continued: “Rob’s a fighter, he’ll take on anyone.

“You only need to look at his UFC career, he’s never once questioned an opponent – just said ‘yes’ to whoever they put in front of him.

Paul Gallen first has to get past Mark Hunt on Wednesday night. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“And, of course, we know Paul Gallen would be a tough challenge if he beats Mark.

“But Rob’s already fighting the toughest guys in the world. Guys who are throwing elbows, knees, headkicks, everything ... so the idea of Paul Gallen throwing punches at him certainly isn’t any more worrying.”

Asked about finances, Day continued: “You’re not getting Rob for $750,000.

“We’d want at least $1.5 million.”

Already, Whittaker has said he wants his next fight in the UFC to be for a title.

That could mean challenging Adesanya or, if the champ goes chasing a second belt at light heavyweight, taking on somebody like Brazilian Paulo Costa for an interim UFC middleweight title.

Over the weekend, it was suggested a contract had been drawn up between Costa and Whittaker, with the Australian’s signature all that was needed to make it official.

However Day said he had not been approached by the UFC about any new fight yet.

NO ‘MCGREGOR CLAUSE’: SHOCK TWIST IN HUNT V GAL

UFC legend Mark Hunt will lose the fight but not his $750,000 purse if he delivers an elbow, knee or kick in his hyped heavyweight showdown against Paul Gallen.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal 46-year-old Hunt has not been forced to sign a ‘Conor McGregor clause’ prior to Wednesday night’s bout at Bankwest Stadium.

When UFC megastar McGregor famously boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017, the Irishman agreed to forgo $10 million if he finished his rival with a Mixed Martial Arts move.

Yet Sydney Super Fight promoter George Rose revealed that while the issue of inserting a similar clause had been discussed by all parties concerned, it was eventually decided there was no need to discourage a potential disqualification with financial fines.

The move has surprised some fight insiders, especially given Hunt has spent the past 20 years competing at both MMA and kickboxing in organisations like UFC, Pride and K-1.

Yet Rose insisted he was confident the UFC legend would not revert to his MMA ways – inadvertently or otherwise – against Gallen.

What can Paul Gallen expect from Mark Hunt? Picture: Dan Peled

“There was plenty of discussion around (inserting a clause), definitely,” Rose confirmed.

“Because once you get into a fight, there’s no doubting muscle memory kicks and, yeah, Mark’s reaction might be something along those lines.

“But at the end of the day, everybody agreed it wouldn’t be needed.

“And one of the biggest reasons for that is Mark being incredibly confident that, given the power in his hands, he won’t even have to consider using anything else.

“He’s incredibly confident in his hands.”

Rose continued, however, that the possibility of Hunt eventually being disqualified for an illegal move was still a legitimate discussion topic.

However he insisted that, given the combat legend had spent 10 months preparing at Newcastle’s Steel City Boxing gym, and could use a win over Gallen to secure more fights, there was no chance of him doing anything to jeopardise a win Wednesday.

“Obviously it’s a good discussion to have,” the promoter continued of a Conor McGregor clause.

“Especially with Mark having fought in Mixed Martial Arts for so long, it’s natural for him (to look for those finishes) – he has knocked blokes out with his elbows, knees and so on.

“But in the same way, Gal is an NRL legend and was always a great tackler … (laughs) but we haven’t inserted any tackling clauses into his contract.

“Just as we know he won’t be bringing the stiff arm out, either.

“So that’s why both camps are OK.

“Plus, as I said, with Mark his best finishes have always been through his punching power – the walk off knockout.

“And I think that’s what he will be looking for against Gal.”

It is understood Hunt has been dubbed the A-side of Wednesday night’s showdown and, as a result, will walk away with an estimated $750,000.

In 2017, McGregor earned $30 million for his fight with Mayweather, which eventually saw the UFC superstar stopped in the 10th round.

Mark Hunt would not be fined for a move like this against Paul Gallen. Picture: Getty Images

The Irishman later revealed, however, he would have been fined at least a third of that had the fight ended with him being disqualified for an MMA move.

There were also reports prior to the bout that – apart from Mayweather launching a civil suit if he were stopped illegally — the Nevada State Athletic Commission could also withhold McGregor’s entire purse following a disqualification, and then fine him all of it.

Locally however, a spokesman for the NSW Combat Authority said any financial penalties for a Hunt disqualification would need to be written into his contract by promoters.

Should Hunt win, the Sydney knockout king has already revealed he would be open to a fight with Sonny Bill Williams or, potentially, a return to MMA in either America or Japan.

Despite his age, the western Sydney legend believes he still his six fights left in him before hanging up the gloves.