10 hours ago
Former UFC champ Rob Whittaker has space for all the family to come out swinging
Rob 'The Reaper' Whittaker, the former UFC middleweight champion, and his wife Sofia have purchased vacant acreage in the Southern Highlands.
George Kolovos of Stone Real Estate secured $1.65m for the cleared 4000sqm building block elevated on the outskirts of Bowral, near Mount Gibraltar.
But the property might come with a few challenges including a shared driveway for the four acreage properties that sit behind Whittaker's recent land purchase.
The potential home also offers little privacy, with his mansion-neighbours situated in close proximity of the 34-year-old's future family home.
However that hasn't stopped the sporting great from pushing ahead and buying in the idyllic suburb.
MORE: Secret famous buyer of skinniest pad named
It had previously been on the market for nine months in 2022-23 seeking $1.55m without approved plans and was relisted in March with $1.8m to $1.9m expectations.
It was sold with McDonald Jones approved plans for a single-level five-bedroom house with home theatre, home office plus two-car garaging.
MORE: 'I got it': Will Smith's wild $4m caravan buy
Neighbouring subdivision blocks, all roughly the same size, were sold over the past decade with prices ranging from $1m to $1,785,000.
'I have sold this parcel to a champion bloke and a champion athlete,' George Kolovos posted on Instagram.
'Rob Whittaker and his family will soon be building their new dream here in Bowral,' Kolovos added.
Whittaker owns a number of properties, including an eight-bedroom compound at Glenmore which was purchased for $2m in 2018, along with investment properties at Tahmoor and Thurgoona.
MORE: 500-tonne gross find in Aussie sewerage
He resides in a big extended family group – that he calls the 'Village' – including he and wife Sofia and their five children, and also his younger half-brother and sister.
Whittaker once recalled to the ABC that while he 'didn't go looking for fights', he was often provoked by other children calling him a 'houso', as someone who lived in a Housing Commission home.
'I was very insecure about being a houso, so I looked to change my identity by becoming a fighter,' he said.
He secured the UFC championship top ranking after Georges St-Pierre vacated the title in 2017.
Now ranked fifth, his next fight is scheduled against Dutchman Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi in late July.
Whittaker lost to Khamzat Chimaev last October, when he suffered teeth damage.
**Additional reporting from staff writers.**
