Robert Whittaker remains main contender at middleweight after win over Marvin Vettori

Tom Naghten

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Robert Whittaker remains main contender at middleweight after win over Marvin Vettori image

Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker returned to the octagon to score a clear points win over Marvin Vettori at UFC Paris.

Whittaker turned in a near flawless performance to claim a unanimous decision victory over the second-ranked Italian in the co-main event.

Vettori’s wrestling was virtually a non-factor as Whittaker kept the fight on the feet for the vast majority of the three rounds.

After a close and cagey first round, Whittaker found his timing and went through the gears to show the full range of his skills.

The superior boxing of “The Reaper” was on display in the second round as he repeatedly landed on Vettori’s dome.

In the third round, Whittaker’s trusty head kick found its mark and wobbled his opponent, following up with punches and even securing a takedown of his own.

The cards were a formality (30-27x2, 29-28), announcing Whittaker, now 24-6, as the victor and confirming he remains champion Israel Adesanya’s biggest threat at middleweight.

"I’m stoked with it. All respect to Vettori, that’s why I had to push back the fight the first time because I needed the fitness to be able to hurt him the whole time, he did not go away, I was hurting him," Whittaker said after the fight.

"Trust me, I hit pretty hard, I know I go to a lot of decisions but I hit pretty hard and credit to him."

Whittaker, who lost the belt to Adesanya before going down in a close one in the rematch, said he's not going anywhere.

"Including the champion, I’m the most dangerous man in the division," he added.

"I make people hate fighting, I take the love out of it for them.

"I’m always gunning for that top spot, I’m just going to be lurking there waiting."

In the main event, Whittaker's countryman Tai Tuivasa was on the receiving end of a brutal third-round knockout at the hands of local favourite Ciryl Gane.

Tuivasa threatened to pull off the upset when he dropped Gane in round two but the Parisian's superior striking ultimately came to the fore, hurting the Aussie to the body with a barrage of kicks before wobbling and finishing him with punches.

 

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.