Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Robert Whittaker reacts following the match against Paulo Costa during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Robert Whittaker Considering Move To Power Slap For The Right Price!

Robert Whittaker willing to take on the Power Slap challenge, but for huge price tag associated with it!

Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Robert Whittaker reacts following the match against Paulo Costa during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Whittaker has always been one of the toughest guys in the UFC. The Australian fighter burst onto the scene years ago and quickly made a name for himself. He climbed the ranks with his technical striking and never-say-die attitude. Fans fell in love with his humble personality outside the cage.

Inside the cage, he was a beast who took on monsters like Yoel Romero twice and lived to tell the tale. Whittaker even captured UFC gold in 2017, becoming the middleweight champion before losing it to Israel Adesanya in 2019. Now, coming off a tough loss to Khamzat Chimaev where he suffered a broken jaw, Whittaker has his sights set on comeback. He is scheduled to face rising star Reinier De Ridder in Abu Dhabi on July 26. But he may have his sights on other ventures as well.

Also Read: Valentina Shevchenko Showcases Her Championship Pedigree, Ready To Fight Whoever The UFC Chooses

Robert Whittaker Talks Power Slap

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, ‘The Reaper’ surprised everyone. When asked if he would consider competing in Dana White’s Power Slap League for $100,000 per slap, Whittaker didn’t hesitate.

“100%. 100K a slap? That’s great dude. I might get hit by a car for 100 grand.”

This obviously was a fun take on the question at hand. But this casual interest in switching combat sports shows just how much the fighting landscape has changed in recent years. When someone dangles $100,000 for taking one slap to the face, the math becomes simple. Whittaker already takes punches for a living. Why not get paid more for taking fewer hits?

The Power Slap League has been a controversial addition to the combat sports world. Critics call it dangerous and pointless. Fans call it entertaining. Either way, it’s been drawing interest from fighters looking for new opportunities. Whittaker isn’t the first UFC talent to express interest. Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant already competes there with a 2-0-1 record. Anthony Smith has openly talked about wanting to try it.

Robert Whittaker Has Eyes On Comeback First

Despite the slap talk, Whittaker remains focused on his MMA career. The bout against De Ridder is crucial for his UFC standing. De Ridder recently stopped the hype train of undefeated prospect Bo Nickal. A win over him would help Whittaker bounce back in the rankings. During the same interview, Whittaker made his intentions clear:

“I want to set a statement in this next fight. I want to really send a message and work my way up to the title.”

For now, Whittaker wants to prove he is still elite in the UFC middleweight division. He wants to control the pace against De Ridder and showcase his skills. The former middleweight champion is focusing on that July fight card. But if Dana White ever slides a Power Slap contract across the table with the right numbers, fans won’t be surprised if Whittaker takes the deal!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

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Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!