Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has lifted the lid on his latest coaching classes with fellow ex-titleholder and two-fight foe, Israel Adesanya — claiming throughout the top of their rivalry again in 2019, he may’ve envisioned himself operating the Metropolis Kickboxing striker down along with his automobile.
Whittaker, a perennial contender on the middleweight restrict and the present quantity 4 ranked challenger within the division, has been out of motion since final October, the place he co-headlined UFC 308 in a rescheduled conflict with the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev.
And struggling a dominant opening spherical face crank submission loss to the undefeated Chechen within the pair’s title-eliminator, Whittaker has but to guide his return to motion within the new 12 months.
On social media earlier this month, footage emerged of Auckland-born striker, Robert Whittaker coaching alongside former arch-rival, Adesanya — whom he has shared the Octagon with twice throughout their tenures with the promotion, with the latter making ready for a UFC Saudi Arabia comeback on the flip of the month towards Nassourdine Imavov.
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Robert Whittaker lifts lid on Israel Adesanya rivalry
And sharing some cordial coaching classes in latest weeks, Whittaker has delved into the extent of his rivalry with Kiwi-Nigerian placing ace, Adesanya — notably main as much as their 2019 title unification conflict, revealing he may’ve envisioned himself mowing the previous down in his car.
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“I wouldn’t say it was personal, but I’m pretty sure in 2019, if I could have hit him (Israel Adesanya) with my car, I would have,” Robert Whittaker advised Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. “I just, it’s like, yeah, knock, knock, killed him, like a little bump, you know what I mean? Yeah, it was, there was no love lost there, like none back then.”
“I’m pretty sure in 2019 if I could have hit him with a car I would have.”
It is secure to say the Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya are in a significantly better place 😅 pic.twitter.com/Ke3rvzll4r
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 22, 2025
Struggling a second spherical knockout loss towards Adesanya of their first pairing in 2019, three years later, Whittaker pressured Adesanya the space in a title problem rematch, dropping a unanimous determination loss to the previous two-time middleweight kingpin.
Necessary Credit score: Zuffa LLC
