Former UFC champion drops a quiet hint about retirement

His most recent outing at UFC 308 ended in heartbreak — a brutal Round 1 submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev, a fight so violent it left him with caved-in teeth and a battered sense of timing. It was the kind of loss that makes a fighter pause. And that’s exactly what he did.

Now, with time to heal and recalibrate, Whittaker is gearing up for another shot at glory — this time against the dangerous Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26.  

Fresh off a stunning stoppage of Bo Nickal, de Ridder presents a new challenge. But Whittaker isn’t just fighting for a win — he’s fighting with a clock in his head.

In a revealing interview with "MainEvent," Whittaker was asked whether the fire still burns. His answer was pure Rob: blunt, honest and reflective. "I see the light at the end of a tunnel... Four fights puts me into position to finish on top and have a fairytale ending." 

It wasn’t a plea for attention — it was a glimpse into a man shaping the final act of a legendary career.

Whittaker’s UFC story began all the way back in 2012 on UFC on FX, when he was just a fresh-faced contender from Down Under. He grew into a champion, forged by rivalries with Yoel Romero, showdowns with Israel Adesanya and battles against the likes of Jared Cannonier and Darren Till. A decade later, he’s no longer chasing greatness — he’s defining it.

Four more fights. One last sprint. For Whittaker, it’s not about revenge or redemption anymore. It’s about closure. And if his plan holds, we could be witnessing the most deliberate, emotionally charged farewell run the middleweight division has ever seen.