UFC 243: Robert Whittaker feels he can still beat Israel Adesanya – ‘I hurt him, was controlling fight’
- Former middleweight champion says the two fighters were ‘walking a tightrope’ in Melbourne
- ‘I was doing damage, doing work ... and then I just got caught’
Robert Whittaker has said he has the tools to beat Israel Adesanya if they fight again, after “The Last Stylebender” knocked him out at UFC 243.
After weathering some early aggression from an explosive Whittaker, Adesanya dropped the Australian with a perfect counter-left, counter-right combination in the second round.
“He’s tricky to hit. He’s very tall and he’s good at leaning back. Saying that, I did hit him. I hurt him in that first round. I tried to hit him,” Whittaker said at the post-event press conference.
“When you’re fighting at this high calibre, at this level, every fight is on the line. It’s a tightrope. A lot of the fans don’t realise. We’re walking a tightrope out there. Everybody can beat anybody. Tonight wasn’t my night, but tomorrow might be.”
The show at Marvel Stadium in front of 57,000 set a new UFC attendance record, with former interim champion Adesanya unifying the titles to become undisputed champion.
“I’d like to see on another night us go at it again because I think I can do that. That’s what’s so disappointing, I feel I can beat him. I have the skill set,” Whittaker added.