UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker Has To Rest During 2018 Thanks To Hand Injury
The five-round showdown versus Yoel Romero at the main event of UFC 225 left tremendous consequences on the UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Despite he won that fight, his hand injury is more serious than initially expected and he has no choice but to rest until 2019.
Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) broke his right hand in the first round versus Romero but fought like a Spartan and won the fight via close split decision. The fight was a non-title bout since Yoel Romero missed weight. The Reaper discovers that he hasn’t even started the rehabilitation process yet. (via bloodyelbow.com)
“I haven’t even started the rehab process yet,” Whittaker told Ariel Helwani of ESPN about his broken hand. “Just more letting it heal first before I can implement that. They put a plate and some screws in (on the right hand). Realistically I’m looking at February next year.”
But this hard injury won’t stop Robert Whittaker from being a coach at the next season of the Ultimate Fighter, where the coach of opposite team will be his UFC Middleweight rival, Kelvin Gastelum. The date of the event is not known yet.
Gastelum also believes Whittaker won’t be the same fighter after these two spectacular wars with one of the best punchers in the division. However, Robert Whittaker speculates that consequences weren’t left claiming he hasn’t even reached the peak of his potential. It looks like the sky is his only limit.
“I’m not worried that it’ll have any effect on my performance,” he says. “I haven’t even reached the peak of my potential. This hard fight is going to mold me and shape me as to how I approach fights from here on. I think everyone has to have their mettle tested in a tough fight. That was one of them for me.”
What do you think, did the fights versus Yoel Romero left consequences on Whittaker’s performance? Can Robert Whittaker maintain his winning streak?
