IRVINE, Calif. – Following his defeat in 2019, Robert Whittaker has consistently expressed his desire to reclaim the UFC middleweight championship. However, this week is different. As UFC 298 approaches, Whittaker’s sole focus is on his co-main event showdown against Paulo Costa at Honda Center in Anaheim. When asked about his aspirations for 2024 during UFC 298 media day, Whittaker simply stated, “I want to beat Costa.” His calendar is currently limited to this objective.
This approach seems wise as Whittaker prepares for his first fight of the year, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Dricus Du Plessis in July. Du Plessis’s victory propelled him to a 185-pound title shot, where he emerged as the champion against Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Whittaker acknowledged that his previous performance against Du Plessis was lacking, attributing it to “sub-optimal factors” during his last training camp. While he did not elaborate on these factors, he assured that he and his team have made the necessary adjustments.
With these adjustments, Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) anticipates a successful outcome against Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC). He is eager to face Costa, who has been consistently recognized as a top-tier fighter for several years. Whittaker acknowledges Costa’s strengths as a power puncher who aggressively controls the fight. However, he believes that Costa has yet to encounter someone like him, emphasizing his comprehensive preparation for this fight.
“I’ve left no stone unturned in the past few months. I am fully prepared and ready for this fight,” Whittaker confidently stated.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com