Robert Whittaker relieved after “stressful” victory

ABU DHABI – Robert Whittaker was thrilled after his UFC win at ESPN 14.

In his first fight since losing his title against current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya last October, Whittaker (21-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) joked, laughed and smiled after the fight on Saturday night’s press conference.

Aside from jokes, Whittaker said he was relieved by the result, but reiterated that the fight itself was one of the most stressful tactical battles he had ever been involved in.

“(I feel) good, I think,” Whittaker told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on the Flash Forum. “Really very, very relieved. Obviously there was a lot of pressure and stress in this fight. I am just happy. I’m just glad I got the result for which we came here. I am glad that the work trip was successful. I am glad that I was able to present some of my skills and to open up. I have to fight adversity again in the fight. Yes, it is what it is. It was a great fight, a stressful fight. “

“… It was the most technically striking fight I’ve ever had. It was a game of chess. I got a little nervous in the first round – and he let me pay for it. I just remember thinking, “Oh, not like that.” But honestly, I got up again and it was like, “I have to work again (and change it a little).” From then on it was just a game of chess. He was waiting for me to come in. I was waiting for him to come in. “

Whittaker and Till (18-3-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) took apart for five rounds. In the end, Whittaker got the unanimous decision with three 48-47 points. Despite the proximity, Whittaker said he was confident of making the official decision that he had done enough.

“I understood that it was a very close fight,” said Whittaker. “I think the second round was definitely mine, the third round, the fourth round could have gone either way, but I think I showed my mentality and experience at the championship level in this last round – especially where it was so close hands on the bleachers -up game. Then it was a big boom in the scorecards for me to do it. “

Since this victory is still fresh, Whittaker’s struggling future is not the focus of his thinking. He said he wanted to go home and spend time with his family before going back into battle preparation. When the time comes, Whittaker said he was ready to win the title.

“My biggest thing right now is that I want to go back to my babies, my wife and just go home – that’s why I do it all,” said Whittaker. “So I can do what I do. It is because of them.

“To be honest, I’m at the championship level. Everyone can see that. Everyone always knows that. I wasn’t myself last fight. I believe that. Nothing to take away (Adesanya). He’s a great striker, but I wasn’t my last fight myself. I think it was a good win. I am a champion with a belt (or) without a belt. It does not matter. It is what it is. I look forward to getting back to work and seeing how the next fight goes. “

UFC on ESPN 14 took place on Saturday at the Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event was broadcast simultaneously on ESPN and ESPN +.