In a surprising twist, Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, once fierce competitors, are now training together at City Kickboxing in New Zealand. The Australian fighter, who was defeated twice by Adesanya, including a middleweight title loss in 2019 and a rematch in 2022, has now joined forces with his former rival in an unexpected collaboration.
How Whittaker Ended Up at City Kickboxing
Whittaker recently revealed in an interview that he never saw this partnership coming, admitting that a few years ago, he wouldn’t have believed it was possible. “If you would’ve asked me a few years ago if I ever seen this coming, the answer would’ve been, ‘Not in 100 years,'” he said.
The decision to train at City Kickboxing came out of necessity when some of Whittaker’s usual training partners were unavailable, and the team needed more fighters to prepare for upcoming challenges. “One of my training partners got injured, a couple of the boys had other commitments … I sat down with the team, and Alex [Prates] was like, ‘We need some bodies. How are we gonna get them?’” Whittaker explained. The lightbulb moment came when they realized that City Kickboxing, with its elite training roster, was just a short flight away.
“New Zealand, the place of my birth. Everything just started lining up, right? So, Alex reached out to Eugene [Bareman] and had a conversation. Me, Alex, and a couple of training partners came over here to test the waters to see if we get along … and we are getting along,” Whittaker said, reflecting on the initial trip to the renowned gym.
From Hate to Friendship
It’s a surprising twist, especially considering their past animosity. Whittaker admits, “I don’t know if I hated him, but I’m pretty sure that 10 years ago I would’ve hit him with my car if I could have.” However, the two have developed a strong friendship. Whittaker shared a recent hangout at Adesanya’s house, working on YouTube content, saying, “I was sitting on the couch with him, working on his YouTube stuff. I’m still kind of reeling. It’s a funny world.”
Despite their friendly banter and shared interests, Whittaker is clear that a trilogy fight between them is not in the cards. “Yeah, that door is shut. I don’t fight people I eat with,” Whittaker declared when asked about the possibility of a third bout with Adesanya.
Whittaker’s Plans for the Future
Whittaker is focused on his return to the Octagon after a tough loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October. When asked about his upcoming plans, Whittaker shared, “I’ve been training for a while now.” He continued, “I’ve been training here with the boys for a bit. Honestly, I’ve got some things that I’m working on in the beginning of this year. In the coming months, I want to focus on those.”
Looking ahead, Whittaker is eyeing a return in June. “I’m probably looking for a June return. I wanna hit the ground running. I wanna perfect and really put the finishing touches on some things that I’m working on, so when I step back into the Octagon, again after a loss, you see me level up, you see me take that next step to being better than I was,” he said.
This unexpected alliance with Adesanya has not only shifted the dynamics of their relationship but also serves as a reminder of how fluid and ever-evolving the world of MMA can be. Whittaker and Adesanya may have been fierce competitors, but now, it seems their shared respect and growth in the sport have paved the way for a strong and productive partnership.