It makes you wake up a bit.” My father got me that tattoo when I was 18. 824.6k Followers, 1,829 Following, 1,584 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) People often see that as me tapping my Southern Cross tattoo and I don’t mind it being interpreted like that because I am very proud of my country.“But there’s another reason why I do that.
I am really proud of my country and proud of where I am from.Whittaker has held clinics for youths in his spare time at his home gym, Gracie jiu-jitsu at Smeaton Grange, and also visited several remote Non-title bout; Romero missed weight (185.2 lb). When he beat Brad Scott on the Gold Coast last December Robert Whittaker joined a small but impressive group of mixed martial artists, New Zealand-born fighters who have scrapped in the UFC. And I always tap my chest to show that whether he’s in the crowd or in the stands or at home, it’s a way for him to know that I’m thinking of him.
I had made changes, I had lost way of who I was as fighter and as a family man and as a man myself and just sitting back and reflecting on that I had to make my relationship with my family right and then I had to make my relationship with my coaches and everything right.Whittaker fought for the interim middleweight title against A rematch with Romero took place on 9 June 2018 at In July 2018, the UFC announced that Whittaker and Whittaker began competing in amateur freestyle wrestling tournaments in 2015, when he unexpectedly turned up to compete in the Australia Cup in Whittaker and his wife Sofia have two sons, John and JackWhittaker's father is an Australian of European descent and his mother is of I'm blessed to be in this position – every time I walk into the octagon I feel like I'm representing Australia and New Zealand. UFC Champion Robert Whittaker on fatherhood and family Before every fight Robert Whittaker ferociously pounds the Southern Cross tattoo on his chest. Whittaker's father enrolled Robert, aged seven, and his brother in a I'm the type of fighter that goes into every fight with no ill will towards my opponent. The win moved Whittaker into the final round of the competition, which would take place live on Whittaker made his UFC debut on 15 December 2012 at I had to really have a sit back and just look at what I was doing with myself outside the octagon and inside. Robert John Whittaker is a New Zealand-born Australian professional mixed martial artist fighting out of Menai, Sydney.
A professional MMA competitor since 2009, Whittaker was a contestant on the first series of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes and won the welterweight tournament. Whittaker won the fight via TKO in the first round.On 30 October 2011 Whittaker lost his first fight when he travelled to In 2012 Whittaker's coach, Henry Perez, put him forward for the first series of In his first fight on the show Whittaker fought Luke Newman.
He is signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the former UFC Middleweight Champion. Whittaker landed a punch flush on the chin of Newman after 19 seconds, knocking him unconscious for several minutes. The best thing that I can do for them as a father is to make sure they have the right skill sets to do whatever they want to do.”The Aussie star said his children have helped to keep him grounded, even when he’s achieved so much at a relatively young age.“The biggest thing that having kids has taught me as a fighter is that you’re really nothing special,” he said.“That’s humbling in a sense that it makes you realise there are lots of people out that don’t like watching fights, and they don’t care either - you’re a nobody to them. Whittaker became interim middleweight champion after winning the title at UFC 213; he was promoted to undispu… It's the highest honour and the highest privilege.I am immensely proud to be an Australian and to be a pioneer in the sport to, you know, lead, lead today's MMA scene against all these other countries, you know, it really, it really does light me up, to see that the Australian flag when I walk out, you know, to hear them called out that I'm Australian and I am very patriotic. But it’s not all about national pride.Robert Whittaker is back in the gym, seeking an August title defence and thankful to be alive, via Nick WalshawSome things are worth more than belts to Robert Whittaker.In an era of brasher and more outlandish UFC stars than any point in history, Robert Whittaker remains true to his roots.He might be one of the UFC’s most terrifying fighters — and a champion to boot — but he’ll never forget where he came from.In the year 2000, the now 28-year-old’s parents separated and Whittaker, along with his brother Steven, moved in with his dad in a housing commission unit.Effectively raised by a single father, Whittaker learned a lot from his dad and secretly honours him every time he enters the Octagon.“When I was a kid I didn’t understand how tough that would have been — I was a little s*** to be honest,” he said.“But looking back retrospectively I can see that my father sacrificed a lot, he did a lot of things I’m sure he didn’t want to do, and he always put us first.“When I walk into the Octagon I always tap my chest. But it’s not all about national pride. Darren Till has never been one to shy away from the limelight - and you can hardly miss the huge tattoo on his left arm. I'm an athlete first and foremost and I love the sport.In 2008 Whittaker began competing in MMA as a professional.