Since losing the UFC middleweight championship in 2019, Robert Whittaker has consistently voiced his desire to reclaim it. However, this week, his focus is solely on his upcoming bout at UFC 298 (available on pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), where he’ll take on Paulo Costa in the co-main event at Honda Center in Anaheim.
During UFC 298 media day on Wednesday, Whittaker outlined his aspirations for 2024, emphasizing his immediate goal: defeating Costa. “I want to beat Costa,” he asserted. “That’s on the to-do list right now, and that’s as far as my calendar goes.”
This focused mindset is perhaps a strategic choice as Whittaker gears up for his first fight of the year. He’s aiming to bounce back from a disappointing second-round TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis last July, a defeat that propelled Du Plessis into a 185-pound title shot, which he clinched by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Reflecting on his loss to Du Plessis, Whittaker admitted, “Dricus is a sore spot for me because I didn’t turn up. I didn’t perform.” While he didn’t delve into specifics regarding what went wrong, he noted that adjustments have been made by him and his team to rectify any shortcomings from the previous camp.
Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) anticipates these adjustments will yield positive results against Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), whom he regards as a formidable opponent and perennial top-tier fighter. “He’s a great fighter. He’s been in the conversation of the top 10 forever,” Whittaker commented. “He’s a power puncher, he pushes forward, and he likes to control and dictate the fight in that way. But I don’t think he’s encountered anybody like me. I don’t think anyone has until they come up against me.”
Confident in his preparation, Whittaker affirmed, “I’ve done everything. I’ve ticked every box, I’ve crossed every ‘t,’ I’ve dotted every ‘i’ in the last few months, so I’m going into this fight cocked and ready.”
