Robert Whittaker opened up about his narrow split decision loss to Reinier de Ridder at a recent UFC event in Abu Dhabi, ending his winning streak and marking a challenging moment in his career. The bout, a closely contested battle, highlighted Whittaker’s resilience but ultimately extended his losing streak to two fights for the first time since 2014.

Career Highlights and Recent Performance

Whittaker previously rebounded from setbacks against Court McGee and Stephen Thompson by embarking on a nine-fight winning run, capturing the UFC middleweight title in 2017. He held the championship until 2019, when Israel Adesanya claimed it. Since then, Whittaker’s performance has been inconsistent, achieving a 6-4 record including his most recent loss to de Ridder. Despite these ups and downs, he remains focused on continuing his career with determination.

Whittaker’s Thoughts After the Defeat

Addressing fans in an Instagram video, Whittaker expressed both disappointment and resolve.

I’m disappointed, but I’m not disheartened,

he stated with a smile.

You know, there are a lot of things I liked about the fight. There are a lot of things I didn’t. But I’m gonna take it all, head back to the gym, sit with the team, pick it apart, and then get back on the horse. That’s that’s all you can do.

He also acknowledged de Ridder’s strategy and execution that led to the victory.

Congratulations to de Ridder. He had a particular game plan. He executed it well. It got him the win. It is what it is sometimes. But yeah, I’m gonna learn from this experience and move forward.

Looking Ahead: Recovery and Future Plans

At 34 years old, Whittaker has a long and demanding career behind him with a professional record of 26 wins and 9 losses overall, including 17-7 in the UFC. Although retirement is a consideration for the future, Whittaker is not rushing the decision and remains motivated to compete at a high level.

Summing up his mindset, he affirmed,

This isn’t the end of Robert Whittaker,

adding,

This is just another learning curve, another speed bump.

He plans to take some time to recover and spend moments with his family before returning to competition.

I’m gonna spend some time with my family now, just rest, recover a little bit, and then hopefully get back on an Australian card. It’s been a while and I’m honestly, I’m longing for it. It’s been a while since I fought in Australia and I’d love to fight here again. It’s time.

Potential Return and Impact on Upcoming UFC Events

Currently, the UFC has one Australian event scheduled—a Fight Night in Perth on September 28th—which could benefit from Whittaker’s presence, known affectionately as Bobby Knux. However, given the recovery time needed after a grueling five-round fight, it is more likely Whittaker will return for the UFC’s traditional Australian shows in February. His comeback would bring renewed excitement to the local fans and strengthen the UFC card.