Robert Whittaker believes that UFC Middleweight Champion Drus Du Plessis will be the root of his own downfall.
Du Plessis has continued to prove that his opponents are uneven in the biggest stage in MMA so far and answer doubts about his style and skills with profit after victory in the Octagon.
Since reaching the middleweight throne, the South African has successfully defended his title twice. After Du Plessis had submitted Israel Adesanya in Australia, he took a second victory over the man he had not taken to become champions, Sean Strickland.
Next for 'Stillnocks' is the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev, who tilt many to be the one who finally beat Du Plessis. But whether that will flourish or not, will be determined by the champion and not 'Borz', according to their shared former opponent …
Robert Whittaker says that Dricus Du Persis 'will lose himself'
Speaking at the Ariel Helwani show on Uncrowned, Robert Whittaker looked ahead to the third title defense of Du Plessis at UFC 319 and assessed what is needed for the South African not to be complicated.
Whittaker was eliminated by Du Plessis on UFC 290, so he knows the game of 'Still Knocks' well. And after experiencing the strong points of the champion firsthand, 'The Reaper' believes that the key to Him loses lies in himself, not his opponents.
“To be honest, I think Dricus is the kind of man who will lose for himself,” said Whittaker.
“The way he is fighting. I think it is clear with every fight, it is very heavy. Especially for him. He is tough like nails and he never stops. He beats many people on the back of him who doesn't go anywhere.
“I think the day he can't push, the day he can't find it, the day he could lose,” Whittaker continued. “He has a head of steel, he is a tough guy, he is strong, he is physically fit, he uses the work.”
Robert Whittaker's Road to a Rematch starts at UFC Abu Dhabi
Regardless of who wins the UFC 319 Main Event, Whittaker will have his sights on a rematch with the champion after August 16.
After he bounced back and climbed close to a title shot after his defeat against Du Plessis, Whittaker was crushed in UFC 308 in UFC 308 in a devastating manner in October.
His first fight comes back on Saturday, when the Australian still has a chance to give a middleweight candidate his opening defeat in the UFC.
Whittaker is the headliner of UFC Abu Dhabi against Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division one championship title holder who has gone 3-0 in the Octagon so far.