Robert Whittaker is looking to shut down Yoel Romero once again.
UFC Middleweight champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker and number-one contender Yoel “Soldier Of God” Romero have fought once before- in the main event of UFC 213 last summer. Whittaker won an impressive unanimous decision with a torn MCL. Now, after a shocking KO of former champion Luke Rockhold Romero has again earned a shot at Whittaker, who now holds the undisputed belt. The two will face off in the main event of UFC 225 in Chicago.
On Wednesday, Submission Radio got ahold of Whittaker and picked his brain on the upcoming contest. An interesting wrinkle to Yoel’s win over Rockhold was that Yoel didn’t actually make weight and Rockhold took the fight anyway. Whittaker says he would do no such thing:
“Nah, no way. Like, why would you? I don’t understand anyone who takes fights when their opponent doesn’t make weight. It’s like, if you rock up at 87 kilos, which is what Romero did — It was like 86 kilos or something like that — then why don’t I rock up at 95? What’s the difference?… So, if you don’t make weight, I’m not fighting you. I’ll give the shot to someone else who can make the weight, who can do their freaking job.”
Many have speculated that as an exceptional competitor, Romero deliberately missed weight betting that Rockhold would still accept the fight. It sounds like this wont be an option against the champ.
As far as the fight itself, Whittaker doesn’t see Yoel making any adaptations for the second time around:
“I don’t think he’s at a point where he can make drastic changes. I don’t think he can change anything that will really make an impact for this next fight. But that’s all my speculation, so who knows?
“I’m gonna be fitter and I’m not gonna have a bum knee. I’m gonna have, like you said, I felt him out, so I’m gonna work on certain things that I know is going to stump him.
“I hope and I pray that he fights me like he fought Rockhold. I mean.. think about it- a stationary target in front of me…hehe, yea alright.”
Romero recently made an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, during which he talked about his upbringing in Cuba, wrestling career, and much much more.
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