“I’ve been working on refining my skills, and I’m aiming for a comeback in June this year,” former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker confirmed last month, sharing his plans for a UFC return. ‘The Reaper’ has been on the sidelines since his defeat to Chechen powerhouse Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, where ‘Borz’ dominated the Australian fighter effortlessly. In just one round, Chimaev secured a brutal submission with a face crank that dislocated Whittaker’s jaw, leaving him with severe injuries that required a lengthy recovery process, including surgery.
Now, with Robert Whittaker’s return on the horizon, the UFC’s rising middleweight star, Caio Borralho, has set his sights on him as his next opponent. You guessed it—’The Natural’, who, like his former sparring partner Khamzat Chimaev, is viewed as a future title contender in the promotion. The Brazilian, with an undefeated record in promotion (17-1-0), currently sits at #6 in the middleweight rankings, just behind the Aussie, who holds the #5 spot.
‘The Natural’ views Robert Whittaker as the ideal opponent for his next fight. During an appearance on the Jaxxson Podcast, when host Quinton Jackson asked the ranked No. 6 contender about his “biggest obstacle” to a title shot, Borralho shared that he’s targeting a “top five” opponent. He mentioned names like Nassourdine Imavov, Dricus Du Plessis, and Sean Strickland as part of his radar.
However, Caio Borralho feels the Australasian is the best challenge for him at this moment, especially with Robert Whittaker’s recent loss and his spot in the rankings. “Robert Whittaker is the one, you know? He’s coming off a loss, and he’s ahead of me in the rankings—he’s number five, I’m number six. So, I’m trying to get this fight with him. I heard he wanted to fight in June,” said the Brazilian. He also revealed that he’s targeting the UFC’s annual International Fight Week, set to take place on June 29, calling it “a big pay-per-view card, and I think it would be amazing.”
MMA: UFC Fight Night-Whittaker vs Vettori, Sep 3, 2022 Paris, FRANCE Robert Whittaker red gloves before his fight against Marvin Vettori blue gloves during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports, 03.09.2022 00:27:16, 18981989, UFC Fight Night, MMA, Robert Whittaker PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPerxHaljestamx 18981989
Meanwhile, International Fight Week has been generating significant buzz, particularly due to the rumored fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. On a side note, Caio Borralho hasn’t competed since UFC Vegas 96 last year, where he dominantly outclassed veteran Jared Cannonier, earning a unanimous decision. Now, with Robert Whittaker in his sights, it seems like another seasoned fighter is next in line for ‘The Natural’.
However, Robert Whittaker is currently focusing on Sean Strickland as his potential next opponent, considering Strickland a more reasonable challenge. But why is that? Let’s hear from ‘The Reaper’ himself.
Why does Robert Whittaker want to fight Sean Strickland rather than others?
Despite both fighting under the UFC banner for nearly a decade in nearly the same division, Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker have never squared off inside the Octagon. Now, at 34 years old and approaching their 40s, the two are in similar career trajectories, with alternating wins and losses. Ranked close to each other, both are on the cusp of title contention. ‘The Reaper’ believes Strickland is the ideal opponent for his next fight. In an appearance on the On Paper with Anthony Smith podcast last month, he revealed his plans for a potential return, suggesting a summer fight, possibly in June.
Robert Whittaker discussed Strickland, saying, “I think Strickland makes a good argument to have because we’ve both been in that top tier for a while, circling each other. For whatever reason, we haven’t been matched up, but we’ve been in proximity for a long time, and it’s probably the fight to make. I’m excited by that matchup. I look at his style and find it interesting. I’m excited to try and figure him out. He’s a tough dude, but I’m really proud of my skillset and confident in my abilities.”
So, what do you think about a potential Robert Whittaker vs. Caio Borralho clash? Is the rising Brazilian star the ideal opponent for the former champion, or should the Australian’s next fight be with Sean Strickland instead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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