How former foe Israel Adesanya is helping Rob Whittaker regain UFC gold
It was a cold call to Israel Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman which has turned two of the UFC’s biggest rivals into training partners, and now friends. And it could take Robert Whittaker back to the promised land.
It was a cold call to Israel Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman which has turned two of the UFC’s biggest rivals to training partners and now friends.
Aussie star Robert Whittaker once described his relationship with Adesanya as “hating him so much, I wore myself out”. But now Whittaker’s shock friendship with his former foe may just be his way back to the UFC title.
The pair have quite the history inside the Octagon, with Whittaker losing two fights against the Nigerian-born Kiwi, including a spectacular knockout which saw him lose the UFC middleweight title to Adesanya. So nobody is more surprised than Whittaker about his new buddy.
“It was a massive shock to me,” Whittaker said.
“We wanted to work on some new angles and new skills, but mainly we needed bodies, taller guys, heavier guys.
“We were racking our brains on where to go and it was like a flash, City Kickboxing is only 2-3 hours away.”
Pictures posted on the pair’s Instagram showed the two sparring as Adesanya prepares for his February main event in Saudi Arabia next month against Nassourdine Imavov.
And while this excited Aussie MMA fans, Whittaker confirmed the new partnership rules out any chance of a trilogy fight happening in both fighters’ futures.
“You can’t break bread together and fight against each other,” Whittaker said.
“That’s not how I operate, and I’m sure their team follows suit.”
However, the 34-year-old is adamant that his former foe is going to play part in him regaining the middleweight championship within the next two years.
“We know each other better than most other people,” he said.
“There’s just so much to learn, especially being able to put both our teams in the same room, you can’t brainstorm with better people.”
Whittaker has mapped out the end of his fighting career and in what will sadden his loyal fans, he claims to only have four fights left.
Not having any names in particular to tick off, Whittaker is waiting to see how the division looks come June before pinpointing his next opponent.
Many have speculated a move to the light heavyweight division to finish his illustrious career, but Whittaker has no clue where those rumours came from.
“Maybe it’s because I look so fat in my gear at the moment,” Whittaker said.
“Christmas was too good to me, but I’m working on it.”
Missing out on the UFC’s return to Sydney next month, Whittaker is healing from a gruesome teeth injury he suffered at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev last October.
Devastated by the result of that fight, the Sydney based Whittaker is hoping to meet Chimaev again before he hangs up his gloves.
This time with a new set of teeth, courtesy of the UFC.
“It upsets me I was unable to highlight all the things I worked on,” Whittaker said.
“He’s at the top of the game right now and I would love to run it back.
“I should have taken (my teeth) out years ago, the process was so simple.
“Everything happens for a reason, and this way the UFC pays for it.”
Originally published as How former foe Israel Adesanya is helping Rob Whittaker regain UFC gold
Join the conversation
Image exposes reality about Aus Open
An image taken from the stands during Alex de Minaur’s first match has put forward an awkward question to the Australian Open.
Read more
‘Emotional’ Aussie gutted after late AO twist
Australia’s top-ranked female was reduced to tears after a late scheduling switch right before her first Australian Open match.
Read more
Star’s weak excuse for petulant outburst
Daniil Medvedev has laughed off a wild outburst where he smashed his racquet repeatedly against the net camera.
Read more