The last train for Robert Whittaker

Robert Whittaker remains one of the most respected names in the UFC’s middleweight division. But as he prepares to headline UFC Abu Dhabi today alongside rising star Reinier de Ridder, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Another loss could push the former champion out of the title conversation for good. This may be his final shot.

“It’s the same as always, there’s so much nerves and pressure that you hate what you’ve done, what you’re doing,” Whittaker told ESPN. “But there [are] also moments in a fight that you really feel alive.” At 34, the New Zealand native knows this could be his last real opportunity to make a run at the 185-pound title.

Former king of the division

Whittaker’s legacy in the middleweight division is already secure. He captured the interim title in July 2017 with a unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero, and was promoted to undisputed champion later that year when Georges St-Pierre vacated the belt. He was set to defend the title in a rematch with Romero, but the Cuban missed weight, making the bout a non-title affair. Still, Whittaker emerged victorious once again.

Then came Israel Adesanya. The Nigerian-born phenom stormed into the division and dethroned Whittaker via second-round TKO, launching one of the most dominant title reigns in recent memory. Whittaker rebounded with three straight wins to earn a rematch, but Adesanya once again proved superior, winning by unanimous decision. Since then, Whittaker has alternated wins and losses, struggling to regain consistent momentum.

A golden opportunity

In his most recent outing, Whittaker suffered a brutal submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev - a fight that left him with a dislocated jaw and missing teeth. Chimaev is now set to challenge current champion Dricus du Plessis for the title on August 16 at the next UFC pay-per-view event. That context gives Whittaker a unique advantage: if he can bounce back with a strong performance, he could find himself back in the title mix.

“[If] I have a good showing against this guy [de Ridder], maybe [I’ll] fight another contender above me for a title shot and then I’m fighting for the title,” Whittaker told ESPN. His opponent is no easy proposition. The Dutchman has won all three of his UFC fights, most recently knocking out Bo Nickal - one of the most hyped prospects in the promotion.

High risk, high reward

A loss, however, would be a major setback. De Ridder would leapfrog Whittaker in the rankings and likely earn a fast track to a title shot. And in a division that isn’t currently the UFC’s most stacked, every opportunity counts. Both Du Plessis and Chimaev have already beaten Whittaker - each finishing him in the second round.

For Robert Whittaker, UFC Abu Dhabi isn’t just another fight. It’s a crossroads. A win could reignite his championship aspirations. A loss might close the book on one of the middleweight division’s most respected careers.

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