Former UFC Champion Robert Whittaker Drops a Quiet Hint About Retirement
There comes a time in every fighter's career when the end feels closer than the beginning. That final push—the one last run toward legacy—starts to take shape. For one former UFC champion, that moment might already be in motion. After years of wars in the Octagon, he now sees a clear path to retirement—and he isn't shy about mapping it out.
Advertisement
Robert Whittaker, the 34-year-old Australian and former UFC Middleweight Champion, has been through it all. From world title glory to crushing setbacks, his career has been anything but quiet.
OctagonGetty
His most recent outing at UFC 308 ended in heartbreak—a brutal Round 1 submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev, a fight so violent it left him with caved-in teeth and a battered sense of timing. It was the kind of loss that makes a fighter pause. And that's exactly what he did.
Now, with time to heal and recalibrate, Whittaker is gearing up for another shot at glory—this time against the dangerous Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26.
Advertisement
Robert WhittakerGetty Images
Fresh off a stunning stoppage of Bo Nickal, de Ridder presents a new challenge. But Whittaker isn't just fighting for a win—he's fighting with a clock in his head.
In a revealing interview with MainEvent, Whittaker was asked whether the fire still burns. His answer was pure Rob: blunt, honest, and reflective. 'I see the light at the end of a tunnel... Four fights puts me into position to finish on top and have a fairytale ending.' It wasn't a plea for attention—it was a glimpse into a man shaping the final act of a legendary career.
Whittaker's UFC story began all the way back in 2012 on UFC on FX, when he was just a fresh-faced contender from Down Under. He grew into a champion, forged by rivalries with Yoel Romero, showdowns with Israel Adesanya, and battles against the likes of Jared Cannonier and Darren Till. A decade later, he's no longer chasing greatness—he's defining it.
Advertisement
Four more fights. One last sprint. For Whittaker, it's not about revenge or redemption anymore. It's about closure. And if his plan holds, we could be witnessing the most deliberate, emotionally charged farewell run the middleweight division has ever seen.
Related: UFC Faces Pressure as Ilia Topuria's Next Opponent Narrowed to 3 Possibilities
Related: 'Count Me In' – Conor McGregor Sets His Sights on a Historic Stage
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Australian actor Julian McMahon dies aged 56
Australian actor Julian McMahon, famed for roles in popular series like Nip/Tuck and Charmed, has died aged 56. His wife said the actor passed away in Clearwater, Florida, on Wednesday. He had been diagnosed with cancer. "Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible," Kelly Paniagua said in a statement carried by Deadline. McMahon's career took off with the hit supernatural television series Charmed before he gained wider recognition with Nip/Tuck, the medical drama in which he played the role of plastic surgeon Dr Christian Troy. Running for six seasons from 2003 to 2010, the show earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Co-star Dylan Walsh told Dealine he was "stunned". "We rode this wave together and I loved him. "Jules! I know you'd want me to say something to make you smile — all the inside jokes. All those years you had my back, and my god, we laughed. My heart is with you. Rest in peace." McMahon also played Doctor Doom in two Fantastic Four films in 2005 and 2007 and later appeared in three seasons of FBI: Most Wanted. Dick Wolf, the producer of FBI: Most Wanted, said McMahon's death was "shocking news". McMahon was the son of a former Australian prime minister and went on to play an Australian prime minister's role in Netflix's The Residence - one of his recent appearances. McMahon married three times - the first to Australian singer-actress Dannii Minogue, sister of Kylie Minogue.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pacific-Aust 'commonality' important in uncertain times
Anthony Albanese has hailed the importance of personal relationships with Pacific nations at a time when other powers are seeking to increase their influence. The prime minister, who will host Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka when the Wallabies take on Fiji in their one-off Rugby Union Test in Newcastle on Sunday, reiterated the importance of soft diplomacy in the region. "Relationships between nations essentially come down to relationships between people," he told ABC Radio on Saturday. "It is a great way in which our nations can show our commonality. We are all members of the Pacific family." Australia has provided $10 million over seven years for the Fijian Drua women's and men's teams in the Super Rugby Pacific and Australia Super W competitions. Some $600 million over a decade for a PNG NRL team had also cemented the relationship between the two neighbouring nations, Mr Albanese said. He said investments in sports were linked with education and economic development, resulting in better health outcomes and stronger, more secure and smarter Pacific populations. At a time when the United States is pulling away and China and Russia are trying to increase their influence, the prime minister stressed the importance of positioning Australia as the partner of choice. "We have a considerable defence and security presence throughout the Pacific and that's very much, in these uncertain times, in Australia's interests," he said. "One of the ways that we cement that is through those personal relations." Mr Albanese was keen to highlight Australia's upgraded defence and security relationships with Fiji, PNG, Tuvalu, Nauru and other smaller nations in the Pacific. "We are family and we assist each other as friends, not with strings attached," he said. "What we do is we help each other out because of our common interests and our common values." Mr Rabuka met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra earlier this week. In a keynote address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he spoke glowingly of bilateral ties between Suva and Canberra in a deteriorating world. "Unfortunately for now, I contest the region's outlook is more uncertain than at any time since Fiji's independence in 1970," he said. "Perhaps we have reached a point in our Fiji-Australia relationship where a renewed and elevated Vuvale partnership needs a further step-up to an agreement for a treaty."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Expansion clubs unlikely to prise star duo from Storm
Melbourne representative stars Harry Grant and Xavier Coates have been touted as prime targets for expansion clubs but the Storm remain favourites to ward off poaching raids. Captain and hooker Grant, along with flying winger Coates, both spoke in Queensland camp about their current club in such a fashion that it dispelled the notion they would be leaving to join Perth Bears or the PNG-based club, who will enter the NRL in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Coates, 24, is an interesting one as he is a PNG Kumul international who was born in Port Moresby. The 19th NRL team, based in the rugby league-mad nation, would have the tryscoring machine at the top of their list of potential recruits. "I don't know how it's going to work to be honest. I know rugby league is a massive sport in PNG, it's the national sport, so getting a massive fan base around them won't be a trouble at all," Coates said. "It would be great to see a lot of players go to PNG and play for them. I don't know the whole gist of starting up an NRL club or anything like that, I am just focused on my time in Melbourne." Coates is off contract at the end of next year but AAP has been told the Storm are determined to keep him after he has become such a standout since his move from Brisbane in 2022. "I am happy with my time in Melbourne so I'm not focusing too far ahead," Coates said when asked if he intended to stay. "They are a great club and they have helped me out so much. They have done a lot for me." Xavier Coates is INSANE! 👏#NRLSharksStorm — NRL (@NRL) May 17, 2025 Bears coach Mel Meninga is well aware of Grant's class, having coached the 2022 World Cup winner previously for Australia. The Test rake is also off contract at the end of next year and the Storm are determined to ensure the 27-year-old goes nowhere. Grant said he was in no rush to get a deal done, with the Origin decider days away, but he has a strong relationship with all the movers and shakers at the club. "I haven't had those conversations too much yet. (Origin) is a period we have got to navigate," Grant said. "I wanted to get through the chunk of the season. We have good owners down at Melbourne, a good board, CEO and recruitment team that I have a good relationship with. "They are pretty comfortable with the conversations when they take place. "The Storm are such a good club with so many good people in it that it's a good environment to be in. "The longer you are in those environments the happier you are and the better footy you play."
