What Is Robert Whittaker’s Martial Arts Background? At What Age Did the Ex-UFC Champ Start Training?

After a recent glut in his performances, Robert Whittaker is gearing up to face Paulo Costa at UFC 298. The Australian, a champion until 2022, has lost two of his last three fights and will face the #6 ranked Costa in a clash that will probably determine the course of the rest of his career.

A win against the promising young prospect would get him back into the title mix while a loss may see him fade away from the top contenders. Ahead of his consequential bout against Costa, we take a look at Robert Whittaker’s martial arts background.

Robert Whittaker and his entry into the world of fighting

Robert Whittaker is a former UFC middleweight champion and has notched up 24 wins and 7 losses in his professional MMA career, with 11 of them coming in the last six years. An athlete since childhood, he picked up rugby and martial arts until committing himself fully to martial arts later in life.

He started his martial arts journey at a very young age, taking up training in karate at the age of seven. Showing promise early, the Aussie was able to earn a junior black belt in the discipline in just four years. After this, the prodigy switched to hapkido and later to MMA.

Whittaker made his professional MMA debut in 2009, managing to compile a record of seven wins and two losses in three years, and joined the UFC in 2012 after winning the welterweight bracket of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes the same year.

The 33-year-old lived up to his promise, going on to win the interim middleweight title in 2017. He then unified his title and became undisputed champion later that year after a victory over Yoel Romero at UFC 213. And the success he has found in his career has come from an unorthodox and unique fighting style.

Robert Whittaker’s fighting style

Robert Whittaker has a well-rounded style of fighting based on his Karate. This is combined with his excellent takedown defense and grappling skills of the Aussie, he also holds a black belt in BJJ. ‘The Reaper’ is known for his fleet-footed quickness, which, along with his superb understanding of range and ability to do damage from the outside makes him a daunting opponent.

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Unsurprisingly, his preference for striking is reflected in his fighting record. Out of the 24 wins in his career so far, only five have come via submission, while nine have been knockouts and ten have been via decision. And his upcoming opponent, Paulo Costa, also a striker, is likely to test ‘The Reaper’s athleticism, quickness, and even chin if the Brazilian uses his relentless, high-volume heavy-punches style of fighting. If Costa wins, he is likely to be one or two steps removed from a title shot.

The high stakes have made their UFC 298 bout this Saturday a must-watch for all MMA fans. What are your predictions for UFC 298?

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