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Who Should Robert Whittaker Face Before Retirement?

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 7:41 AM ET

Robert Whittaker laid out his retirement timeline, revealing he plans to have four more fights before ending his career, as we look at who he could face.

Whittaker is set to headline UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26 against Reinier de Ridder. This fight is crucial for Whittaker, who is looking to bounce back after a submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev, where he suffered a broken jaw. Whittaker said he wants to avenge his two defeats against Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, who both face off next. However, Whittaker must focus on winning to re-establish himself as a top contender in the middleweight division.

“Four fights. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, I want four more, that’s me. I see the stepping stones needed to do what I want to do. Four fights gets me into that title shot, gets me into a position to finish on top, to have that fairy tale ending. I’m working towards it,” Whittaker said

Outside of those fights, Whittaker could face other top contenders. Sean Strickland is the former UFC Middleweight Champion. Since beating Adesanya for the belt, he has only won once from his last three, losing twice to Dricus Du Plessis. They have yet to face each other, but the rankings make it a possible match-up. Sean is ranked second, while Whittaker is fifth.

Another alternative is to face Israel Adesanya. Izzy is not in the best form, having lost three fights on the spin. However, he is the former UFC Middleweight Champion, making him a big-name. There may not be a better time to face Adesanya, who faces serious question marks over his career. Whittaker has lost twice to Adesanya, as he will be desperate to avenge the defeats. Either way, Whittaker wants the best fights.