Robert Whittaker has his eyes set on Marvin Vettori next time out.
Whittaker is coming off a decision loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 271 for the middleweight title. Since then, many wondered what would be next for him as he’s 0-2 to the middleweight champ but for “The Reaper” he says he is interested in facing Vettori in the summertime.
“I think he fights Cannonier next, and then I think I fight someone in the division,” Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I don’t know how many people are left. Probably Vettori? Yeah, he would have to be the highest-ranked next up, I believe. I’m looking forward to (fighting again soon). I’m going to enjoy my little break now and then get back in the gym, probably look for like a July, August sort of return. I think that will be good because then I can get a third one in at the end of the year. So, I think that’s good timing for me. But, yeah, that’s very rough, very rough.”
Although he is 0-2 against Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker doesn’t think the champ wants the trilogy bout. He says Adesanya knows the third fight would be a tough challenge for him and it’s not one the champ will want.
“Nah, nah, I’m sure he doesn’t want to have a third fight,” Whittaker said. “It was a hard fight, and like, he knows the threat that I bring to it. Yeah, it doesn’t bother me, I’m not really worried about it. Just like the first time, I’m just gonna beat up everyone they put in front of me, and then there will be no one left… “It’s inevitable for another fight down the line. Yeah, there’s definitely going to be another fight down the line.”
Whether or not Whittaker vs. Vettori would be the main event of part of a pay-per-view is to be determined but it is the fight the Aussie wants.