‘Can you believe it?’: Aussie champ Robert Whittaker pummelled

An Aussie’s dreams are in tatters after he suffered a crushing defeat before Israel Adesanya’s racial slurs overshadowed everything.

Robert Whittaker couln't runaway from the South African's hands. Photo: Main Event.

Robert Whittaker watched on as the division moved on without him in a crushing defeat at UFC 290.

The Aussie champion suffered a TKO loss at the hands of South African beast Dricus Du Plessis when he was rocked in the second round and was eventually unable to escape a position of trying to protect himself while pressed against the side of the Octagon.

Du Plessis rocked Whittaker late in the opening round before reigning down a barrage of blows in the second to end the contest.

A monster right hand straight down the middle stumbled the Aussie and the South African star took advantage, landing shot after shot before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Du Plessis crushed Rob’s dreams. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP

“This is absolutely huge,” Daniel Cormier said in commentary.

“Can you believe it?” Jon Anik said in commentary.

“This guy is a tank,” added Joe Rogan.

“He is a really dangerous guy. To do that against a guy like Whittaker is a real wake-up call for the rest of the division.”

DRICUS DU PLESSIS JUST KNOCKED OUT ROBERT WHITTAKER #UFC290pic.twitter.com/uHYKctyVE5

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 9, 2023

The result re-writes the script for the middleweight division heading into the blockbuster UFC 293 card in Sydney.

A trilogy fight for Whittaker to have one final shot at middleweight champion Isarael Adesanya was on the cards for the Australian event, but that has turned to dust for the former champion.

Robert Whittaker suffered a very tough loss. Photo: Main Event.

Robert Whittaker couldn't runaway from the South African's hands. Photo: Main Event.

Adesanya entered the cage and confronted his new rival du Plessis, bombarding Du Plessis with expletives while using a series of racial slurs.

“Wassup, bitch? Wassup, my African brother, you bitch,” Adesanya said, before unleashing a tirade, including several n-bombs.

Du Plessis hit back: “I’m African, but I ain’t no brother of yours.”

Du Plessis has now won eight straight and appears all-but certain to get his title shot against Adesanya.

His defeat continued a day of misery for Australia with Jimmy Crute and Shannon Ross also suffering losses via stoppages.