'Thought I ticked all the boxes': Robert Whittaker suffers split decision loss as UFC title hopes dashed
Updated . First published at
Robert Whittaker's return to the UFC octagon didn't go to plan, falling short in a hard-fought split decision loss against Reinier de Ridder on Sunday morning (AEST).
The 34-year-old was looking to return to the winner's circle after a crushing submission loss against Khamzat Chimaev last year, which saw the Australian star suffer a nasty-looking tooth injury and spend more than nine months away from the cage.
The former champion was giving up a considerable height and reach advantage against the Dutchman, but it didn't seem to faze the Sydney product in the early stages.
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Robert Whittaker in action UFC
Whittaker's striking was on full display from the get-go, splitting de Ridder open above the eye and keeping away from the grappling of the bigger fighter.
De Ridder managed to land a flush knee that stunned the Aussie in the second round, taking the fight to the mat in the process and using his size to put in some work.
Just as it looked like de Ridder was gaining control in the third round, Whittaker dropped his opponent with a huge overhand right and almost scored the finish on the ground.
"Robert was seconds away from finishing that fight - it looked like de Ridder was in a world of trouble," Michael Bisping said on commentary.
"Other men would have been out of there."
Robert Whittaker drops Reinier de Ridder in the third round UFC
The knees from de Ridder continued to cause some dramas for Whittaker in the fourth round in Abu Dhabi as fatigue clearly set in for both men.
With the fighters out on their feet heading into the final round, it was the 15th-ranked de Ridder who did just enough to claim the narrow victory.
The judges scored it 48-47, 47-48, 48-47 in favour of de Ridder.
Speaking after the decision, Whittaker seemed to think he did enough to win.
"[I am] pretty hurt," he said.
"I thought I ticked all the boxes. He walked away the winner, good on him."
The result places Whittaker's hopes of a fairytale ending with the UFC in serious doubt, having now lost three of his past five fights - including against current champion Dricus du Plessis and top-ranked contender Chimaev.
