UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker joins the UFC Post Show to react to Jared Cannonier’s unanimous decision win …
listen you picked Jared cannonier uh Robert going into this one because you said he was too or well-rounded for Marvin vittori anything surprise you in this fight at all yeah definitely I am I I picked Kennedy to win this fight right but I didn’t pick this candidate I didn’t like I didn’t Envision seeing this pressure fighter Cannon here who just crowds and closes that Gap you saw during the fight Kennedy had a hold of Marvin’s hand a lot of the times just because he was that close I didn’t I didn’t pick him coming out with this approach but uh it obviously worked to great effect Robert you’ve obviously fought both men so you know what it’s like to be in there with both of them were you surprised at all at the toughness of the Tory those big Power shots that he was able to take throughout 25 minutes of fighting um I’ve got to say hats off to both guys that that fight was absolutely incredible one of the better middleweights I’ve uh fights I’ve seen in a long long time uh vittori what do you have to do to put him away you know I know I tried my best I know a lot of other people have tried their best and now Kennedy gave him five minutes of record record-breaking significant strikes to and still couldn’t put him away so he is he’s made of something else yeah he is Robert Rubble it’s been a while it’s good to see you on the other side of this camera my man look and I don’t want it to I want to Pivot right now I want to talk about UFC 290 and you got your big fight with triggers duplicity coming up look the fans seem like they’re a little bit dismissive of drikis’s skills especially when he’s matched up against you what do you see in drikas’s game that poses the biggest threat to you in July um it’s good to see you too mate uh I I guess if fights were won on paper you know the the entire sport would be very different and I understand that that’s not how fights are won I understand the threat that drinkers can bring to the table and and bring to to you know to me moving forward to trying to achieve what I want um I I do believe that is one of the major reasons why drikas has had the success he’s had because he’s going up against his dudes and these guys are not giving him his you know his credit they’re not giving him the respect his skill set deserves I fully understand that I have bled and sweat and trained my butt off to take the war to him come UFC 290. are you changing up anything as you prepare for this fight you’ve looked so sharp as of late are you are you going to try anything new to maybe level up the game if that’s even possible for where you are right now uh definitely and I think that’s why you see Improvement in my game throughout the years and throughout my fights every fight I believe is you’re seeing a new a new a new window into my game Into what I’m trying to bring they’re seeing new skill sets and and skill sets that I previously had better than than the last time and that’s because I’m always trying new things I’m always trying to better the next skill set I’m doing lots of grappling I’m doing lots of wrestling I’m trying to switch up my boxing and uh that’s what I believe takes me to new levels and drikis is gonna send a new level once again Robert you you’re obviously fighting drinks in July uh International fight week let’s say you get the win there you’re healthy enough to fight the champ makes all the calls right now right so is he saying he wants the next fight to be in September is that timeline work for you is that something that if you get out of this fight unscape you’re planning on taking yeah I definitely am not looking pastry because he’s too dangerous and the the fight has too much gravity in July and all my focus and attentions dedication is going into July but I’ll tell you one thing if I’m healthy and able I will take a fight at any date any time I’ll take a fight two days after July if I’m I’m healthy and able so um yeah it’s it’s let’s get through July and then I’ll yeah I’m in the fight game you know I’m in the business one last question for me Rob just to keep it a little bit light-hearted I got to ask you I know you’re a big gamer what game are you diving into right now what’s what’s what’s been the game for this for this training camp training camp uh honestly the the Final Fantasy looks pretty cool I’ve been really excited for that but I’ve been playing a little bit of Diablo 4 that came out with all my friends but just mucking around with different things really just trying to take my mind off all the all the hard work Robert Whitaker keeping busy uh playing the video games training for a huge fight coming up in early July here in Las Vegas thank you so much thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming Sports and premium content subscribe to ESPN Plus