Morning Report: Robert Whittaker says being ‘actually awkward’ is perhaps Dricus du Plessis’ greatest weapon

Robert Whittaker might be one of the vital invested events in UFC 305’s important occasion this Saturday night time.

The UFC middleweight title as soon as held by “The Reaper” might be on the road as the present champion Dricus du Plessis defends towards former two-time title holder Israel Adesanya. Sadly for Whittaker, his title reign ended by the hands of Adesanya in October 2019 earlier than he fell quick to du Plessis in July 2023.

Whittaker, 33, is probably going on the cusp of a shot at redemption towards both together with his upcoming UFC 308 tilt towards Khamzat Chimaev in October. A win would prolong his successful streak to 3 (27-7 file).

First, the Kiwi will sit again and assess the motion with the remainder of us, and having fought each, he sees the matchup as basically a coin flip.

“If I needed to make a decide, I might say there’s a 50 % probability — that is my confidence right here, ‘kay? They’re 50-50 odds,” Whittaker mentioned on his MMArcade Podcast. “That’s how a lot I believe both one may sway. I believe there’s a 50 % probability ‘Izzy’ form of retains him on the finish of his jab, makes use of that spacing, doesn’t get his again put towards the fence, defends a takedown, however finally wins by determination.

“Then I believe there’s a 50 % probability Dricus does what he did to [Sean] Strickland. Pushes into that house, takes him down, wears him out, turns it to a canine battle. Doesn’t get a end however drags it out to the purpose the place he’s nonetheless the remaining champion. 50-50 my cash’s on these two sorts of outcomes/strategies.

“Most likely Dricus by determination,” he concluded with a decide.

A standard theme all through du Plessis’ nine-fight successful streak (21-2 general, 7-0 in UFC) has been his foes underestimating him, together with Whittaker. The previous champion has admitted as a lot on quite a few events because the defeat and did so once more earlier than this upcoming battle.

Regardless of proving everybody unsuitable with every win en path to the title, du Plessis stays slept on and the opening odds mirrored that once more as he was an underdog towards Adesanya at +144 to Adesanya’s -186 favourite, per BestFightOdds. The window has since closed to -115 for Adesanya and -105 for du Plessis, based on BetOnline.ag.

In the end, Whittaker simply sees this as a power for “StillKnocks.”

“To a level. I used to be sufferer of that, proper?” Whittaker mentioned. “He’s an awkward-looking dude, man (laughs). He fights actually awkward. Even while you’re in there with him I assumed it was awkward. I felt like he was sluggish and cumbersome. Then he punched me within the face (laughs).

“That is perhaps considered one of his biggest weapons. Simply to fly beneath the radar to make individuals assume he’s lower than scuff then you definately get in there with you and he beats you.

“That’s the top of the great speaking factors about these guys,” he concluded. “Screw these guys. That’s so far as I’m going.”

Help. Jon Anik responds to critics of his UFC 304 name of Belal Muhammad’s title win

Solutions. UFC mailbag: Waiting for UFC 305, the upcoming TV rights deal, and the 12 months in assessment to this point

Competitors. Canelo Alvarez responds to sharing Las Vegas battle date with UFC 306: ‘I can do no matter I would like’

Doping. Ex-PFL champion Bruno Cappelozza suspended 1 12 months by USADA after failed drug take a look at

MMA Combating’s Mike Heck catches up with Jon Anik.

UFC 305 Embedded.

PFL Battle Week.

Ashley Barrett’s huge win.

Full battle.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Combating’s Mike Heck and Alex Ok. Lee talk about the matches to make after UFC Vegas 95.

Begin your Tuesday off weirdly with some Kontrust.

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover considered one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re at present actually into. I’ll decide one of the best one alongside my every day alternative and provide you with a shoutout! It’s also possible to share within the feedback beneath — these are simply tougher to sift by means of generally!

This month’s full playlist:

Nothing like well-timed knees.

Hype.

Beginning younger.

Views.

Darren.

Vacationers.

Tease.

Going for gold.

Energy.

Customs.

Tease.

Robocop.

CJ Vergara (12-5-1) vs. Ramazonbek Temirov (17-2); UFC Vegas 98, Oct. 12

Adriano Moraes (20-5) vs. Danny Kingad (15-4); ONE 169, Nov. 8

Good closing remarks from Rob. How do you not just like the man?

Thanks for studying!

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