Robert Whittaker reveals retirement plans, wants enough time to 'have a solid crack at something else' other than fighting
16/08/2024 11:59
Former UFC champion and #3 ranked middleweight Robert 'The Reaper' Whittaker isn't looking to hang up the gloves anytime soon, but he's got a date in mind as to when he wants to walk away to 'have a solid crack' at something other than fighting.
'The Reaper' is in preparation for his upcoming clash with undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev, now re-scheduled for UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, and this week opened up on the timeline towards retirement.
UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker opens up on retirement plans
Speaking earlier this week to Demetrious Johnson via the Mighty Mouse YouTube channel, Robert Whittaker was asked whether he'd started thinking about what he'd like to do after his fighting career comes to an end.
"Well, a big part [of my plans] is the gym, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Smeaton Grange, the culture there is something that's been built from the ground up and it's amazing, so I have the gym that I'm looking to spend more time in, less as an athlete and more as a member."
At only 33 years of age, set to celebrate his 34th birthday in December, the Australian fan favorite knows that there are plenty more big fights still left for him in the UFC – although he does have a date in mind as to when he'd like to walk away.
"I'm thinking of wrapping it up around 36, that's around two-and-a-half years [time]. I feel like 36 is a good age to really have a solid crack at something else, whatever it is I want to do [next]."
"I do the normal things, I save more than I spend, I look to buy land and investment properties whenever I can afford it, I'm looking to still push my dreams ahead."
However, Whittaker knows from personal experience that he can't get too far ahead of himself with these post-fighting retirement plans, as any company or venture capital takes both attention and energy away from those big-money fights left to come.
"I'm not really moving into anything that I need to dedicate too much focus towards because I do believe that everything you do that isn't fighting, takes away a little bit of that mental mind space you have – and you don't have a lot of it [spare].
"I've tried juggling things in the past, especially around that Dricus fight, where I've tried juggling another business at the same time and even if you aren't actively thinking about it, that little bit of reserve space taken up by your company is there."
The 26-7 veteran is set to face the undefeated Chimaev in October and whilst Dana White has stated that Sean Strickland will be next in line for the middleweight title, another viral finish in Abu Dhabi could see him leapfrog 'Tarzan' to face the winner of this weekend's fight between DDP and Israel Adesanya.
Interestingly, Whittaker himself also credits his KO loss to Dricus Du Plessis for this newfound perspective on how running a successful business can be a major detriment to the business of fighting at such an elite level.
"Since that loss [to DDP], MMA is demanding and competition at this level is demanding, so if you're not willing to give everything you have for it, your opponent is and that's when you lose.
"I can't let myself down like that, not while I'm competing – I'm not playing games, so I really do make a conscious effort on pushing back a lot of stuff."
Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev is set to be the co-main event of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, with featherweights Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway set to throw down in the main event of the evening.
