The Ultimate Fighter alum turned 185-pound smashing machine has become one of the most feared strikers in his division. The Sydney-based fighter has notched six consecutive victories since joining the middleweight division back in 2014, with all but two of those wins coming by knockout.

Yet, Whittaker sleeping his opposition has become somewhat expected inside the Octagon, the 26-year-old shocked the world in his most recent outing when grappling powerhouse Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza became the next  victim on Whittaker’s hit list at UFC on Fox 24.

Where many assumed Souza would drag Whittaker down into the depths and use his submission game to finish things off, Whittaker had much different plans. He landed power to rock Souza on several turns before finishing things off in the second frame.

Whittaker’s TKO victory over the former Stirkeforce champion was undoubtedly the biggest of his career, and the newly minted contender told the lads at Submission Radio how he marked the occasion in Kansas City.

“The celebration was just dressing up a bit, we went out and got a bite to eat,” Whittaker said. “We went back to the hotel room with our family and started packing. Ready to go home and see our boys.

“We got Kansas City BBQ. I found a love for cornbread that I think ruined food for me forever.”



While Whittaker is the hottest name in the highly competitive middleweight mix at the moment, his current success appeared to be a longshot just three years back.

Whittaker built a bit of steam by winning TUF: Smashes as a welterweight, but then was handed back-to-back losses inside the cage. He would bounce back with a victory over Mike Rhodes before ultimately making the jump up in weight.

In a sport where most fighters go down in size looking for traction, Whittaker went up, which seemed to be an even bolder move at the time. Three years and a pile of bodies later and it’s clear “The Reaper” made the right move.

“I was in a bad way after back-to-back losses as a welterweight and I really had to re-establish who I was as a fighter and as a person,” Whittaker said. “I did those things, I made the right call and surrounded myself with people who cared about me. I knew I was always going to have to move to middleweight and just doing the right things led me to where I am.

“Things you do inside the Octagon affect things on the outside and vice versa.”

Immediately following his victory over Souza talk began to ignite about Whittaker’s next bout being a title shot or a title eliminator against one of the division’s elite names. And while Whittaker admitted he’s not thinking about what’s next until he sees his family and enjoys the fruits of the hard work invested, he does know what the ultimate goal is.

He also doesn’t care who is standing in the way because he’s going straight through.

“I want that belt,” Whittaker said. “I’m going for that belt and this is my run. I’m gonna tear through anyone that gets in the way.

“I’m hunting for the belt more than anything. [Bisping] is holding the belt for the moment, and he owes me a fight, that works in my favor. If that’s how I get a crack at the belt that’s what I want, but my mind is on that belt. Let’s not get confused.”