Robert Whittaker anticipates a major size difference should he be matched with Alex Pereira in the near future.
The Brazilian kickboxing sensation captured UFC gold this past weekend at UFC 281 in only his fourth octagon appearance. Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya to win the Combat Sports hat trick. He fought against the cage in the final round and won the fight.
Watching the bout closer than most as the former champion and top contender, Whittaker — a former welterweight — couldn’t help but notice how large Pereira was compared to their middleweight counterpart. Ahead of the fight, Pereira shared weight highs of 232 pounds in preparation for his big title fight. Ultimately, he had no issues making the 185-pound mark when it mattered most.
“As I said before, I’m not planning past [Paulo] Costa, but I can say that I think Pereira’s a better matchup for me than Israel,” Whittaker said during the UFC 284 tickets-on-sale press conference. Just because of his attitude and drive to succeed. The way he likes to fight I feel gives me a better edge, but in saying that, did you see the size of the fella? (laughs) I’m like, why is nobody mentioning that? He’s a giant. He’s an absolute giant.
“I’ve been face to face with Israel and it’s surprising to see like, Israel’s pretty big. He looks tall and lanky, but he’s actually a big dude. Then you see Pereira up against him and just his facial features are bigger, feet and hands and forearms are massive. “Who let him in?” (laughs) But still, I think I can take him.”
Whittaker’s prior two losses to Adesanya in recent years put him in somewhat of a limbo this year unsure of when he could challenge for a title again. Now that the title has changed hands, the window of opportunity has re-opened, but he may still have to wait to see how a potential rematch between the two plays out first.
Before even that, however, Whittaker will need to get back on a winning streak by defeating the aforementioned Costa at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia on Feb. 11.
“I realized that if waited till November to see who would win, that I could potentially waited out to get a title shot,” Whittaker stated. Whittaker said, “The problem is that I have done it before in that way. I just end up sitting on the bench for so long. It’s all too much (laughs). It’s too much waiting. I just want to get in there, I want to fight. The fact that it’s in Perth is even better. The card is an Australian one, so it’s only a short hop from my home. It’s a great opportunity to get in and give a solid showing .”
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Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck discusses if the UFC should immediately run back Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya after shocking UFC 281 ending.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Party on.
Finally made it to a @freestylebender staff party. We donate to local artists, single mothers, immigrants etc to support their big dreams. We do the Lord’s work on his days off. Amen pic.twitter.com/G8i4e9k4WM
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) November 15, 2022
Rematch?
Dirty cheater @TElliott125 How you sleep with that win? We’ll do it again. @ufc @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite make it happen. pic.twitter.com/APUiLtvjLS
— Tagir Ulanbekov (@Ulanbekov_Tagir) November 15, 2022
Usually on my left side lol.. I’ll take that in 6 to 8 months once I’m cleared!!
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) November 16, 2022
Ready.
Tim Elliot is injured
Dvorak didn’t accept
Molina has a fight and he’ll never fight me in his life…
Manel Kape has a fight
Matt Schnell has a fight
Amir Albazi has a fightBut if any of them are ready for March UKs card you know who to contact @Mickmaynard2
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) November 16, 2022
Lol u don’t want nothing to do with me lil boy u keep hiding using the excuse of ranking if u want some come get some in my country UK @muhammadmokaev https://t.co/IZz72JpdRM
— Jake Hadley (@JakeHadleyMMA) November 15, 2022
2020 Hadley: 5 cancelled bouts 4-1 (1-1 in ufc)
2020 Mokaev: 9-0 (3-0 in ufc)
So shut your mouth! Come down to Manchester for a spar I’ll sit on your face I’m here in UK right now!— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) November 16, 2022
Full of shit you lad, your own teammates don’t even like you so be quiet don’t ever forget when I saw you at the ACB event and you put your head down, eat that for lifeeeee
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) November 16, 2022
Never been to ACB in my life so that’s straight cap
— Jake Hadley (@JakeHadleyMMA) November 16, 2022
Just fight now.
Funny how your crunches remind me of those flimsy lawn chairs https://t.co/mXiOiUPb79 pic.twitter.com/q2vGjdISJ4
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 16, 2022
I mean, you earned it, champ.
Walk.
“Make That Fucking Walk Matty”- @raylongomma pic.twitter.com/2LxzMrC548
— Matt “The Steamrolla”Frevola (@SteamRollaa) November 15, 2022
The Moicano vibe is strong.
Homie is mad about money mic Moicano https://t.co/vxfYktDA4y
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) November 16, 2022
Magnum.
MMA all the time.
Watching…
Alex Pereira has been hunting Israel Adesanya for three years pic.twitter.com/apPkdXRfRm
— Luca Fury (@FurysFightPicks) November 16, 2022
Fitting.
We got the one, the only @MieshaTate in the house for our 50th card! You can’t miss these fights tomorrow. Watch #InvictaFC50 LIVE at 9est/7mst on @AXSTV + @fightnet + @facebook + @YouTube! pic.twitter.com/SFzeqfCUh1
— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) November 15, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ovince St. Preux (26-16) vs. Philipe Lins (15-5); UFC 282, Dec. 10
Victoria Lee (3-0) vs. Zeba Bano (1-1); ONE on Prime Video 7, Jan. 13
John Lineker (35-9, 1 no contest) vs. Fabrizio Andrade (8-2, 1 no contest); ONE on Prime Video 7, Feb. 10
FINAL THOUGHTS
Pereira definitely did look massive against Adesanya at UFC 281. Not totally sure how much of a factor that could be for Whittaker in a fight between the two, but I’d love to find out.
Thank you for reading!
EXIT POLL
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Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/11/16/23459816/morning-report-robert-whittaker-stunned-by-absolute-giant-alex-pereira-feels-still-better-matchup?rand=96749
