Robert Whittaker says he won’t participate in arch-rival Israel Adesanya’s mind-games in the lead up to their eagerly anticipated rematch in the main event of UFC271.
The Australian former champion is on a nine-fight win-streak since he lost the Middleweight Championship title to his Kiwi nemesis in 2019 but remains a big underdog to win back the belt.
Adesanya, who revels in theatrics both pre-fight and mid-bout, famously channelled an anime character and signed Whittaker’s death note before their last fight – but the Aussie won’t be giving him any more fuel this time around.
‘It used to get to me, but now I don’t care,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I’ve left that behind, I’ll just keep to myself. I’m ready to fight.’
Robert Whittaker he won’t participate in arch-rival Israel Adesanya’s mind games in the lead up to their eagerly anticipated rematch in the main event of UFC271
![The Australian former champion is on a nine-fight win-streak since he lost the Middleweight Championship title to his Kiwi nemesis in 2019](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/10/21/54001857-10310753-The_Australian_former_champion_is_on_a_nine_fight_win_streak_sin-a-4_1644529414044.jpg)
The Australian former champion is on a nine-fight win-streak since he lost the Middleweight Championship title to his Kiwi nemesis in 2019
Whittaker is one of an influx of Australian and New Zealand born UFC stars that are in title contention at the moment, alongside Adesanya, Alex Volkanovski, Tai Tuivasa and Kai Kara-France.
The 31-year-old said he finds himself getting stopped in a street a lot more than in the past, a sign that the sport is blossoming in his home country.
‘I think its the wave were riding at the moment, there’ll be talent some years, less in others,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I think a big thing is the popularity and growth of the sport in the last few years. I find I’m getting stopped a lot more, the image of the sport, it’s a lot more in the public eye. It’s much more mainstream.’
Whittaker and Adesanya will headline UFC271 from Las Vegas on the eve of the Super Bowl, meaning the world’s sporting eyes will be locked in on their fight in what will be one of the most watched MMA events ever.
‘It’s going to be mental, it’s a good weekend for sport,’ he said. ‘I’ve fought on big cards before, fought in front of 60,000 people, but this is going to be next level.’
![Whittaker and Adesanya will headline UFC271 from Las Vegas on Sunday - the day before the Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Cincinati Bengals](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/10/21/54001851-10310753-Whittaker_and_Adesanya_will_headline_UFC271_from_Las_Vegas_on_Su-a-2_1644529408691.jpg)
Whittaker and Adesanya will headline UFC271 from Las Vegas on Sunday – the day before the Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Cincinati Bengals
A born and raised South Sydney Rabbitohs fan, Whittaker revealed he has been training with rivals and NRL Premiers the Penrith Panthers.
‘Different training methods have definitely helped my arsenal. I’m working with the Panthers at the moment so I’m a panthers fan now,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They’re great boys.’
![A born and raised South Sydney Rabbitohs fan, Whittaker revealed he has been training with rivals and NRL Premiers the Penrith Panthers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/10/21/54004041-10310753-A_born_and_raised_South_Sydney_Rabbitohs_fan_Whittaker_revealed_-a-3_1644529409306.jpg)
A born and raised South Sydney Rabbitohs fan, Whittaker revealed he has been training with rivals and NRL Premiers the Penrith Panthers
The 31-year-old said he’s done a lot of ‘growing up’ since his 2019 loss to the Nigerian-born Kiwi, saying he’s a lot happier than he was early in his career.
‘It’s night and day how different I am, inside the octagon but outside primarily,’ Whittaker revealed.
‘The loss forced me to change. Now I have a lot of self confidence, a lot more balance. I’m happy.’
Compatriot Tuivasa will fight former Heavyweight Champion Derrick Lewis as the co-main event on Sunday, with Whittaker saying his fellow Sydneysider is ‘ridiculous’.
‘He’s phenomenal. I’ve said it before and say I’ll say it again – he’ll be the next Heavyweight Champion,’ the Aussie declared.
‘His ceilling is ridiculous.’
![Whittaker said he will emulate fellow Aussie star Tai Tuivasa and do a shoey if he wins on Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/10/21/54004061-10310753-Whittaker_said_he_will_emulate_fellow_Aussie_star_Tai_Tuivasa_an-a-5_1644529414947.jpg)
Whittaker said he will emulate fellow Aussie star Tai Tuivasa and do a shoey if he wins on Sunday
Tuivasa, who has won fans around the world due to his iconic shoey celebration when he knocks out his opponents, has even inspired Whittaker – with the 31-year-old saying he will emulate his countryman if he gets the win on Sunday.
‘If I’m drunk enough I’ll drink out of just about anything,’ he said.
UFC271 will be live from 2pm AEST on Sunday afternoon on Main Event.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk