Robert Whittaker came into the fight against Dricus du Plessis as the favorite to win the fight. However, the South African star shocked the world after registering a TKO win in the second round and becoming the next contender for Israel Adesanya‘s middleweight championship. Fans have shared their reactions to it.

A lot of people doubted whether Dricus du Plessis will overcome the highly-decorated Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. He is a former champion, and people were sure of him winning. However, despite ‘Stillknocks’ getting his nose fixed recently, he showcased tremendous cardio and overwhelmed ‘The Reaper’ with his aggressive offense.

Whittaker began by opening with a flurry of quick strikes, which Plessis easily blocked, before being punished by the ‘Reaper’ with a low kick. However, the Australian began to wilt and crumbled to the ground when du Plessis stunned him with a right hand. Whittaker was clearly wounded, but du Plessis took his time, picked his shots, and finished Whittaker against the fence. ‘The Reaper’ had to be hospitalized as a result of the bout. After the fight ‘Stillknocks’ and Israel Adesanya finally came face to face as both declared their eagerness to fight each other when the time comes. Let us see what the fans had to say about the fight.

Did Robert Whittaker give up? Fans react

It surprised most fans to see Dricus du Plessis emerge as the winner in that middleweight bout. However, they are eager to see new and fresh match-ups, as the South African will face ‘The Last Stylebender’ for the first time.

However, the fans were sad to see Whittaker, a former champion, lose to the South African star.

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They were sad to see him give up as soon as du Plessis started throwing a flurry of punches at the end of the fight.

They also pointed out that ‘The Reaper’ showcased below-average defense during the fight.

The fans pointed out the South African star is the second fighter to defeat Whittaker since 2014.

The fans did not hold back on expressing their disappointment in Robert Whittaker.

However, the South African’s clobbering of Robert Whittaker left the fans in shock.

Robert Whittaker not the same fighter he once was?

MMA fans remember the former champ as a devastating challenger to any and all opponents given his impressive technique and robust toughness. But many have been quick to point out that Whittaker is a shell of the fighter once was. Whittaker himself alluded to this stating he handn’t felt the same since his second Adesanya loss. In an interview with ABC’s One Plus One, Whittaker detailed how his mental state was deeply affected by the back to back losses for the title.

READ MORE: “Hard to See” – Fans Left Stunned With Fighter’s Respectful Gesture After the “Cleanest KO” at UFC 290

Prior to his first loss to Adesanya Whittaker was on a 9 fight win streak where he defeated some of the stalwarts of the division. Even after his first loss ‘The Last Stylebender’ he found himself serving as the gatekeeper of the division, beating any and all contenders. It seems that his second loss to Adesanya was what shook his confidence as a fighter, as many had him as a favourite to beat du Plessis as he had done to all the other middleweights before him. It seems that now ‘The Reaper’ will have to begin anew as he for the first time in a decade is neither champ nor gatekeeper of the UFC middleweight division.

It remains to be seen if we’ll see the Whittaker of old return to decimate the division he once held such an iron grip off. What do you think? Will Whittaker

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