Robert Whittaker Eyes Perfect Ending to His MMA Career: “Four Fights, That’s Me (1 Viewer)

[Lina]

Robert Whittaker has a clear vision for how he wants his decorated MMA journey to end. “The Reaper” is set to headline UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26 against Reinier de Ridder in a pivotal middleweight bout. De Ridder, who joined the UFC in 2024, is undefeated in the promotion so far, making this a crucial test for both fighters.

Whittaker, a former UFC champion, knows that even with a win, he’s still several steps away from another shot at gold. But he’s already thinking long-term, sharing his ideal path to retirement in a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia.

“Four fights,” Whittaker said. “I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want four more, that’s me. I see the stepping stones needed to do what I want to do. Four fights gets me into that title shot, gets me into a position to finish on top, to have that fairy tale ending. I’m working towards it.”

Though he’s come up short against some of the division’s top names in recent years, Whittaker has also proven to be a major roadblock for rising contenders. Before his recent loss to Khamzat Chimaev, he earned back-to-back wins over Ikram Aliskerov and Paulo Costa. His current 6-3 run also includes victories over Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Till.

Chimaev, who defeated Whittaker and caused a brutal mouth injury in the process, is next in line to challenge middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16. Both men are on Whittaker’s radar for possible rematches — but he knows there’s work to be done first.

“The list is getting too long now,” Whittaker said with a laugh. “I’m working. Reinier’s in the sights at the moment.”

Despite the rough outing against Chimaev, Whittaker doesn’t feel discouraged. The fight ended quickly, but he believes he never had a chance to show what he’s still capable of.

“He was just better than me on the day,” Whittaker admitted. “I could make all the excuses I want, but the truth is I’ve got the loss now. All you can do is get back in the gym and get back on the horse.”

Still confident in his striking and finishing ability, Whittaker heads into UFC Abu Dhabi focused, motivated, and chasing that perfect sendoff.

“Striking’s my game,” he said. “He’s going to try to take me down — and I’m not going to let him.”