Tune into the latest edition of UFC Journey which features Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov ahead of their UFC Fight Night …
[Music] I’ve had switches of opponents before but not this close he’s coming in here last minute no one expects him to beat me I’m coming in fit sharp fast I want to show everybody that I’m going to be Champion again [Music] [Music] what’s up everybody so a little news here Hamza chamv is out of the fight next weekend in Saudi Arabia rram Alice garro will now be taking on Robert Whitaker if you don’t know who he is let me tell you who he is he has seven first round finishes six wins by knockout five wins by submission he’s on a seven fight win streak the main event is badass this should be a great fight [Music] for for [Music] [Music] the pressure of a UFC contract lies with ikam alov these guys from dagistan they’re bred to be well-rounded dangerous Fighters oh and there’s the wow by submission impressively what the hell is in the water in dagistan how many killers come out of that part of the world and this gentleman looks just like them and fights just like them [Applause] [Music] [Applause] turns the lights out on Phil H wow that one two is nasty is next level this young man has so much potential and so much talent connects with a jab that buckles Alves he must hit so hard man oh switch knee for Alvis and Al is on the Roop Char goes ter the wi k [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] UFC ladies and gentlemen welcome [Applause] winning they’re all very excited Rob welcome bro how are you man I good thank you so much for having me the thrill of the UFC when you walk in here this is better than any UFC because the kids are out there made me look super like they they don’t really understand what I do yet but see everybody scream for me they’re slowly starting a workout that I’m I’m not jobless this is my 12th year in the US C and as long as I do this sport I’m always going to try to be the best at it I accepted the replacement fight because all the work’s been done I understand I had worked a very formulated game plan for chamay but it is what it is sometimes you that’s very cool isn’t he Big Picture This is just a fight game I understand the threat and gravity that alisov is going to bring to the fight he’s a guy that’s coming in here on short notice I have to appreciate that and give it the respect it deserves I’ve got 25 minutes with alisov to try and take his head off I’ve been the champion before and I intend to to do it again I don’t want to finish my career with more to give MMA is a cruel mistress because you reach the highest of highs and the lowest of lows when you win everybody wants to talk to you everybody’s your friend the world your Royster you have more money you have more Fame you have more friends but then you lose and then your phone’s not blowing up nobody wants to speak to you nobody wants to sit down with you for an hour for an interview it’s heartbreaking but that’s a risk you take you have to just get back on the horse and and have faith in the work youve put in you know the pressure and the stakes are always the same they’re all hard fights I’m at the top of the food chain and the only guys that hang out up there are sharks likely Destin one day for the UFC Hall of Fame here is the former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whitaker UFC middleweight Championship on the [Applause] line ooh every fight is its own Beast all right here we go here we go oh in that second fight with my output was higher thought I was learning more effective shots but mainly I was learning a lot of takedowns and I thought I had done enough to get the win this is a hard fight to judge when your opponent gets his hand raised it’s a tough feeling having fought hard fight and to not come up with the goodies but that’s something you have to deal with you have to work through and just get back at it tonight it starts here again the only man that’s defeated him in middleweights is isra ater and he’s not about to let that change the fight with vtori went perfectly to plan I was excited to get back at it oh that’s a massive right hand everything we worked on during that camp fell into place wow double that was a great take down timed it perfect defently I was very happy with the result we got and just the way I performed enter the former UFC middleweight champion and now number two ranked Contender Robert Whitaker look how fired up he is the fight against drias dupy was a little different for me personally because I didn’t like the way I felt in the Octagon I didn’t turn up for the fight I didn’t feel myself look at this beautiful take down beautiful was a pretty bad feeling oh he thed him he’s stunned him bad he hurt bad Drake is D stops Robert Wier inside 10 minutes he got it over me and look at him he’s now the champion the way I felt in there was something I’ll never forget and I was terrified that it would happen again the next fight was with po Costa I took control of my mental game and brought the dog back into the fight oh good right hand by Whitaker I remember feeling that grit and that hunger oh oh beautiful job by Robert Whitaker I’m proud to have flipped the switch on that what a fight with all the stakes Robert the reaper the feeling of winning a fight is the highest of Highs but more than that for this fight I was proud be careful tap that just tap tap done we going to watch daddy okay that’s enough I’m already sweating oh man too hot I have a pretty big family now the roster is pretty full I got five kids each one of them is a unique little human being and I am blessed to be able to watch their progression in [Music] life balancing the camp and the kids you know It’s tricky sometimes but what else you going to do you either balance it or give up you know and I’m no quitter watching robber’s father is the best thing he is an amazing Dad you can see how much that Rob inspires them I find it inspiring to see what he does every day when it comes to his fighting he is super passionate and determined to be the best athlete he can be every single day he’s always trying to better himself in every way possible if I didn’t have someone like sfia supporting me I wouldn’t be at the level that I am today in the UFC she helps me be better and she makes me want to be better I’ve had to play a lot of different roles throughout his whole career to support him I’ve loved every minute of it so many different things have happened throughout our life and through his career but we’ve always had each other I’m gone I fight for my family they’re the entire reason why I do this they’re the reason why I grow and I adapt and I try so hard of why I’m still fighting of why I still want to beat everybody why I want to be Champion they are the driving force of all of that see you later boys girls love you they the reason why I do everything I’ve been lucky in my career to to be a part of a lot of historic events and to be a part of one more the first UFC event in Saudi Arabia means a lot to me I’m going to bring the best Rob wha to to this fight that the UFC has ever seen that’s what I’ve been training for weeks and months for this story is nowhere near finish I am the previous middleweight champion and I’m going to be the next one as well it’s not about getting the belt it’s about fighting for it it’s about giving all I have to achiev that’s the only way I’m going to be able to sleep at night it’s the only way I’m going to be able to look at my kids in their eyes and tell them that if you try your best it’s enough you know with all due respect I understand we’re going to go out there and it’s going to be my best against his best but I’m looking to take him out I want to control the space with my striking until he just can’t handle anymore I wholeheartedly believe that I am the most dangerous middleweight in the [Music] [Music] world he’s for a rude shock I just don’t think he can truly prepare for me I have the style to beat him I want him to despair nobody likes being in a war but I know I can do it I’m going to be there till the last second I know I’m going to win this fight