Robert Whitaker is without doubt one of the most adorned martial artists of this era, however there was a time when he almost tried one other martial arts to compete with well-known skilled wrestlers.
The previous UFC middleweight champion at one level certified for the 2018 Commonwealth Video games to take part in a freestyle wrestling occasion. One other notable one that was additionally certified for that discipline was skilled wrestling star Joe Hendry. Joe Hendry referred to as out UFC fighters when he realized he would compete in the identical weight class.
In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland Round that point, Hendry stated (by way of) Bloody elbow),,
“What sort of athlete would you be when you did not name on prime guys? That is why I, Joe Hendry, are calling UFC champion Robert Whitaker.
Hendry’s catchphrase is “his identify and he’ll be featured,” however after blocking it from the Dana White-led MMA promotion, the one that did not seem was “Bobby Knuckles.” However Whitaker didn’t compete in these federal conventions. By explaining why the foray in freestyle wrestling didn’t happen, Whittaker stated (by way of) The Battle of MMA),,
“The UFC wasn’t very proud of the competitors within the Commonwealth Video games. They have been instructed they have been stripped of their title in the event that they have been injured. Everybody is aware of my priorities. That is my job. There have been two, however I did not have a alternative.”
The Highway of Robert Whitaker and Joe Hendry because the 2018 occasion
Hendry was to complete ninth in Crew Scotland’s 2018 Commonwealth Video games, and later grew to become one of many extra thrilling upstarts in skilled wrestling. Joe Hendry has since continued to win the TNA world title, wrestling Randy Orton on the WWE WrestleMania 41 earlier this yr in April.
Talking of that month, since April 2018, when the Commonwealth Video games happened, Robert Whitaker defeated Yoel Romero in a rematch to take care of the middleweight champion at UFC 225 earlier than shedding the strap to Israel Adesanya at UFC 243 in late 2019.
Whittaker then put collectively a successful streak and as soon as once more challenged the 185 pound belt towards Adesanya at UFC 271, with the previous shedding by factors. Nonetheless, his return to the throne could have some query marks round it as he’s within the skid of two battles between present champion Khamzat Chimaev and Surging’s competitor Reinier de Ridder.
