Whittaker is a former UFC middleweight champion who has received 17 of his 23 fights since becoming a member of the promotion in 2012.
He’s presently fifth within the UFC’s middleweight rankings, demonstrating sporting longevity on the prime which is matched by few.
Though Whittaker says regaining the title – which he misplaced to Israel Adesanya in 2019 and is now held by Du Plessis – stays a purpose, it his not his greatest driver any extra.
“I’ve obtained nothing to show, there’s simply issues that I am working for. I am main by instance for my children and every other athlete that wishes to look as much as me,” says Whittaker.
“I have been within the sport so lengthy, what drives me to be higher and push as exhausting as I do, is the youngsters.”
De Ridder is preventing in solely his fourth UFC bout after becoming a member of the organisation final 12 months.
He’s 34 like Whittaker, however has spent a lot of his profession in fellow MMA promotion One Championship, the place he’s a former middleweight and light-heavyweight champion.
“De Ridder goes to be trying to strain me and take me all the way down to the bottom and make me uncomfortable,” stated Whittaker.
“I wish to get my palms on him and hope for a fast one however I have been coaching for a 25-minute slugfest.”
