Robert Whittaker is well on his way to overcoming the worst loss of his career after UFC 308.
Former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) suffered the fastest loss in the division’s history to Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) on Saturday. He landed a brutal submission in the first round at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Images of Whittaker’s mouth surfaced after the fight, with his teeth shattered in an unnatural way as a result of Chimaev’s submission, and it appeared to be a serious injury. But Whittaker’s attitude suggests it’s rather annoying. Because in his first statement after the match, he clarified that his jaw was not broken, only his teeth were damaged.
“The job is hard sometimes, but it’s the job,” Whittaker wrote on Instagram. “Many congratulations to Khamzat. He was the better man tonight and that’s it. He felt great, everything was fine and he was ready. “Although his jaw is in good condition. , your teeth have shifted. Now is a good excuse to get your teeth properly straightened.”
Whittaker, 33, fell short of his goal of defeating Chimaev and getting one step closer to reclaiming the 185-pound belt, but he doesn’t seem to be deterred by that. “The Grim Reaper” said he intends to return to the Octagon sooner or later, but first he plans to make a full recovery, spend time with his wife, children and the rest of his family, and then focus on what it’s like to be back in the cage. .
“I’m disappointed, but I come back better from every setback and every challenge, so this is no different,” Whittaker said. “I want to thank my team and everyone who has supported me to get to this point. It’s time to spend some time with my family. I hope to be back soon.”
For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC 308 event hub.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and other content with mixed martial arts fans.
