Why Is Robert Whittaker Called ‘The Reaper’ and ‘Bobby Knuckles’? Meaning and Story Behind the Former UFC Champion’s Monikers

Robert Whittaker is known by the fans for his humble personality contrasted with his killer instinct inside the cage. He holds notable victories over names like Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, and Jared Cannonier. Amassing 26 victories over the tenure of his professional MMA career, the Australian mixed martial artist has seldom failed to impress the fighting community. But it’s not just wins that he has garnered in his journey.

Whittaker has even garnered some authentic nicknames over the years as well. And ahead of his upcoming fight at UFC, let’s explore what we know about the origins behind his monikers, ‘The Reaper’ and ‘Bobby Knuckles’!

What is the meaning behind Robert Whittaker’s nickname ‘The Reaper’?

Robert Whittaker was born in New Zealand and his family moved to Australia shortly after. He made his way into the UFC through the ‘The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes’ series which saw him come out on top and win a place in the UFC!

In a previous interview with Maxim Australia, Whittaker was asked about the origins behind his nicknames. He revealed, “The fans (or commentators) gave me Bobby Knuckles and I chose The Reaper. There is no real story behind The Reaper other than I like it. Either nickname is fine with me”

‘The Reaper’ indeed refers to the ‘Grim Reaper’, which is considered a personification of death and is thought of as a mythological figure. However, Whittaker’s skills inside the cage highlight the aptness of the nickname as he has sent many opponents to the ‘shadow realm’ with his patented 1-2-high kick combo!

With a combination of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gojuryu karate, and Hapkido in his arsenal, Whittaker ensures that he remains worthy of his moniker with the kind of performance he showcases in the Octagon, don’t you agree? But ‘The Reaper’ isn’t the only nickname that the Australian fighter has earned.

Where did the moniker ‘Bobby Knuckles’ come from?

‘The Reaper’ isn’t the only moniker Whittaker is known by as he has been bestowed another nickname by the fans! Ahead of his clash with Kelvin Gastelum in 2021, the US fans dubbed him ‘Bobby Knuckles’ to showcase their support for the Australian.

The popularity of the nickname became evident with Whittaker’s merchandise sales before the fight skyrocketing but the fighter and UFC CEO Dana White weren’t pleased with the change in aliases. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, White stated, “I mean, what is Bobby Knuckles even about? You hear The Reaper and you don’t wanna fight that guy. But, Bobby Knuckles … yeah, I’ll take a f**ing shot at Bobby Knuckles.”

And Whittaker agreed with the UFC boss’s sentiments as he revealed, “You tell people you don’t wanna be called something …”, indicating his affinity for his previous moniker rather than the ones the fans have chosen for him!

As Whittaker prepares for his showdown with Khamzat Chimaev in the United Arab Emirates, his dedication to his craft and preference for ‘The Reaper’ highlight his commitment to staying true to himself in the face of external pressures. Come fight night, fans will definitely be hoping the former UFC middleweight champion takes the opportunity to remind the MMA world why ‘The Reaper’ is still a formidable foe for any opponent in the division! 

Do you think Whittaker will be able to defeat the undefeated Chechnyan fighter at UFC 308? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.