Whittaker 'physically couldn't' handle rematch

Australian UFC fighter Robert Whittaker said a quick turnaround to fight Israel Adesanya in June was never an option, and is targeting a September or October bid to regain his middleweight title.

Whittaker has returned to Sydney after his big win over Kelvin Gastelum and is currently in hotel quarantine.

It was a near-perfect performance from Whittaker, who won all five rounds on all three judges' scorecards – although he said it was 'hard to say' if it was the best showing of his career.

"Looking back, I was very happy with my performance. But there's still room for growth, and room to do better. I had a solid game plan from my coaching staff and followed it through. I'm just very happy with all the work I put in," he told Wide World of Sports.

"I'm quite happy, because we were supposed to fight so far back and I know a lot of his fans wanted that fight and to see what would have happened, so I'm glad we can put that to rest now."

The 30-year-old had opportunities to finish the fight, particularly in the fifth round after a takedown with a couple of minutes to go, but was wily enough not to over-extend and try and get a stoppage.

"That's where the experience comes into it – I knew I had won all the rounds up until that point and his only Hail Mary was to try and clip me right at the end," Whittaker said.

"I knew I could just secure the fight with a clean takedown."

Immediately, everyone in the MMA world's attentions turned to a rematch with Adesanya, who handed Whittaker his only loss as middleweight in the UFC. But with the Kiwi keen to fight again in the near future, it was a bridge too far to schedule the pair against each other in June. Instead, Adesanya will fight Italian Marvin Vettori at UFC 263.

"I couldn't, I physically couldn't," Whittaker said.

"I'd just gone through five rounds with Gastelum and I actually injured my hand during the fight week – not to mention the two weeks of isolation. Physically, it was just too much."

Whittaker said he tore ligaments in his hand in the lead-up to the fight.

"It didn't really affect me too much, but hats off to the UFC doctors who looked after me real quick."

Whittaker is hoping to fight in September or October, but obviously, his movements will largely be dictated by the outcome and fallout of Vettori vs Adesanya – he's keen for the fight to be down under, or across the Tasman.

"It's too far out, you can't really plan on anything before that fight happens. But if I had a choice, here in Australia or in New Zealand would be the smartest bet," Whittaker said.

"With crowds coming through again, somewhere down here would make the most sense."

Adesanya is known for his trash talk, but how easy is it for Whittaker, who is usually above such things, to take the high road?

"It's not difficult at all, I genuinely don't care," he laughed.

"I don't even hear about it half the time."

While Whittaker isn't counting Vettori out, he said if the rematch with Adesanya comes, he's ready.

"I did a lot of things differently that I don't normally do and I can only put that down to the headspace I was in leading up to the fight – I look forward to prepping for that again, because I know I can do better."

Whittaker qualified for the Commonwealth Games in 2018, but eventually withdrew. With the Tokyo games just months away, he hasn't ruled out representing Australia in the future if the schedule lines up.

"It'd be great if the timeline allows it, and I'm competing at the time and go through all the qualifications I'd love to throw my hat in the ring – but we'll have to wait and see."

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