Robert Whittaker has defeated Paulo Costa at UFC 298! The fight between Whittaker and Costa was highly anticipated as a win could have title implications in the middleweight division for both men. ‘The Reaper’, who stepped into the Octagon against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 last year in a losing effort, had made it clear in interviews before the fight that he had only one goal in mind for his opponent, he stated, “the objective isn’t to win on the weekend, the objective is to hurt Costa.”
While he couldn’t secure a knockout, he put in an impressive performance despite a few scary moments inside the Octagon. The win marks a significant moment in the former champion’s career as he can now set his eyes on redemption against Du Plessis and find his way back to championship glory! And he also received an interesting congratulatory message from another UFC star!
‘Bones’ shares unique congratulations message for Robert Whittaker after win at UFC 298
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The fight between the pair was largely a stand-up affair with both men trying to establish their dominance on the feet. Costa caught Whittaker with a spinning kick at the end of the first round, rocking the former champion but the round ended before the Brazilian could capitalize. There was also an incident involving an accidental eye poke but Whittaker indicated that he was okay to continue in the second round.
Throughout the bout, Whittaker showcased his precision striking, targeting Costa’s legs and landing powerful combinations. Despite Costa’s durability and aggressive approach, Whittaker’s strategic attacks earned him the win. The fight was intense and closely contested, with Costa showing resilience but ultimately falling short.
At the end of 3 rounds, the judge’s scorecards declared Whittaker the winner via a unanimous decision. ‘The Reaper’ also received congratulations on social media from Jon Jones, who stated, “Congrats! Ya siiiiiickkkkk c*unt.”
Congrats! Ya siiiiiickkkkk c*unt @robwhittakermma #ufc298 🇦🇺
— BONY (@JonnyBones) February 18, 2024
While Israel Adesanya, who has a history with Whittaker in the middleweight division, dropped a cryptic message on X that said, “Hear me out…Post fight ice baths. Right after doctors check up.”
Hear me out…
Post fight ice baths.
Right after doctors check up.— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) February 18, 2024
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With this win, Whittaker reaffirms his status as a top contender in the middleweight division, positioning himself for future opportunities and potential title contention. And during the build-up to UFC 298, ‘The Reaper’ had also revealed that he learned a lot from his loss against Dricus Du Plessis, and made a bold claim towards the South African!
Whittaker believes he is better than ‘Stillknocks’
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Robert Whittaker, with his win secured against the dangerous Paulo Costa, has his eyes set on a possible title clash against the middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis. While Whittaker had lost their previous encounter due to a shocking stoppage, during the UFC 298 pre-fight press conference, he stated, “I still believe I beat him nine times out of 10, I still believe that I’m a better fighter than he is, that I have a better skill set than he does”
Whittaker revealed that he now views the du Plessis fight as a learning experience, and also confessed that he may have underestimated Du Plessis’s motivation and determination in the their previous clash. And with an impressive showing against Paulo Costa, Whittaker’s journey promises to be one of redemption and resilience in the highly competitive world of UFC middleweight division!
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Do you think Robert Whittaker will be able to avenge his loss to Dricus Du Plessis in the near future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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