Introduction
Robert John Whittaker (born 20 December 1990) is an Australian professional mixed martial artist of Māori heritage currently competing in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional MMA competitor since 2009, Whittaker was a contestant on the first installment of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes and won the welterweight tournament. As of April 2016, he is #6 in the official UFC middleweight rankings.
Background
Whittaker's father, Jack Whittaker, was a believer in the values of martial arts so he enrolled Robert in karate at an early age. After training in the discipline for a little over eight years, Robert switched to a Hapkido gym ran by Henry Perez. In 2003 Perez transformed his gym into a MMA gym. Having no other choice, Whittaker began training in MMA and was immediately hooked.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
In 2009 Whittaker began competing in MMA as a professional. He signed with Australia's Xtreme Fighting Championships and made his debut 14 March 2009 against fellow pro debutee Chris Tallowin. Whittaker won the fight via TKO in the first round. Whittaker then started his career with Cage Fighting Championships, going 6-0 inside the promotion from 2009 to 2011, with a notable win over fellow TUF: Smashes castmate, Ben Alloway.
On 30 October 2011 Whittaker lost his first fight when he travelled to Cotai, Macau for Legend Fighting Championships 6. Whittaker fought Hoon Kim and lost via submission in the first round. Whittaker bounced from the loss and won two straight before suffering his second loss to Jesse Juarez, bringing his overall record to 9–2.
The Ultimate Fighter
Whittaker was selected as a cast member for the first installment of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes; which pitted a team eight Australians versus a team of eight men from the United Kingdom.
In his first fight on the show Whittaker fought Luke Newman. Only 19 seconds into the first round Whittaker landed a punch flush on the chin of Newman, knocking him unconscious for several minutes. The win moved him onto the semi-final round. The knockout also earned Whittaker an additional $25,000 for "Knockout of the Season".
In the semifinal round, Whittaker was then matched against replacement fighter and fellow Team Australia teammate, Xavier Lucas. Whittaker won via knock out at 1:17 in the first round. The win moved Whittaker into the final round of the competition that would take place live on UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Whittaker made his UFC debut on 15 December 2012 at UFC on FX 6 which was also known as "The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Finale". He would fight Brad Scott to determine the welterweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes. Whittaker won the fight via unanimous decision to become the first ever winner of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes alongside Norman Parke, who was the lightweight winner of the show.
Whittaker faced Colton Smith on 25 May 2013 at UFC 160. He won the fight by TKO in the third round.
Whittaker faced Court McGee on 28 August 2013 at UFC Fight Night 27. He lost the fight via split decision.
Whittaker was expected to face Brian Melancon on 7 December 2013 at UFC Fight Night 33. However, Melancon pulled out of the bout citing an injury and subsequently retired. As a result, Whittaker was removed from the card as well.
Whittaker faced Stephen Thompson on 22 February 2014 at UFC 170. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
Whittaker faced Mike Rhodes on 28 June 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Whittaker faced Clint Hester in a middleweight bout on 8 November 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55. He won the exciting back and forth fight via TKO in the second round. The win also earned Whittaker his first Fight of the Night bonus award.
Whittaker faced Brad Tavares on 10 May 2015 at UFC Fight Night 65. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. The win also earned Whittaker his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
Whittaker was expected to face Michael Bisping on 15 November 2015 at UFC 193. However, Bisping pulled out of the fight on the 30th of September citing an elbow injury and was replaced by Uriah Hall. Whittaker won the fight by unanimous decision.
Whittaker next faced Rafael Natal on 23 April 2016 at UFC 197. Whittaker won the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.
Whittaker faced Derek Brunson on 27 November 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101. He won the back and forth fight via first-round TKO.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Welterweight Tournament Winner
- The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Knockout of the Season
- Fight of the Night (Two times)
- Performance of the Night (Two times)
- Superfight Australia
- SFA Welterweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 21 matches | 17 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 1 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 17–4 | Derek Brunson | TKO (head kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson | 27 November 2016 | 1 | 4:07 | Melbourne, Australia | Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–4 | Rafael Natal | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 197 | 23 April 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | Uriah Hall | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 193 | 15 November 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 14–4 | Brad Tavares | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt | 10 May 2015 | 1 | 0:44 | Adelaide, Australia | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–4 | Clint Hester | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping | 8 November 2014 | 2 | 2:43 | Sydney, Australia | Middleweight debut. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–4 | Mike Rhodes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Te-Huna vs. Marquardt | 28 June 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 11–4 | Stephen Thompson | TKO (punches) | UFC 170 | 22 February 2014 | 1 | 3:43 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–3 | Court McGee | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 | 28 August 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Colton Smith | TKO (punches) | UFC 160 | 25 May 2013 | 3 | 0:41 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Brad Scott | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson | 15 December 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Gold Coast, Australia | Won The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Welterweight Tournament. |
| Loss | 9–2 | Jesse Juarez | Decision (Unanimous) | Cage Fighting Championships 21 | 18 May 2012 | 5 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | For the CFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Shaun Spooner | TKO (punches) | Superfight Australia 13 | 23 March 2012 | 1 | 4:01 | Perth, Australia | Won the SFA Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Ian Bone | TKO (punches) | Cage Fighting Championships 19 | 9 December 2011 | 1 | 3:15 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Hoon Kim | Submission (triangle choke) | Legend Fighting Championship 6 | 30 October 2011 | 1 | 3:01 | Macau, SAR, China | |
| Win | 7–0 | Corey Nelson | Submission (armbar) | Cage Fighting Championships 18 | 26 August 2011 | 1 | 4:40 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Ben Alloway | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Fighting Championships 17 | 3 June 2011 | 1 | 4:07 | Gold Coast, Australia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Nate Thomson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Fighting Championships 15 | 8 October 2010 | 1 | 2:21 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Jay Cobain | Submission (armbar) | Cage Fighting Championships 14 | 5 June 2010 | 1 | 0:32 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 3–0 | Nick Ariel | KO (punch) | Cage Fighting Championships 12 | 12 March 2010 | 1 | 2:50 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Richard Walsh | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Fighting Championships 11 | 20 November 2009 | 1 | 2:40 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Chris Tallowin | TKO (punches) | XFC 14 | 14 March 2009 | 1 | N/A | Perth, Australia |