Robert Whittaker’s first fight since losing his UFC middleweight title is now confirmed, and it’s anything but an easy matchup.
The UFC announced on Thursday night that Whittaker will take on the surging Jared Cannonier at UFC 248 in Las Vegas on March 7th.
Whittaker (20-5) was knocked out by Israel Adesanya at UFC 243, ending his reign as middleweight champion. “The Reaper” had been undefeated at 185 lbs prior to the Adesanya bout, notably stopping Derek Brunson and Ronaldo Souza, as well as two incredible fights and close wins over Yoel Romero.
While Whittaker became a force at 185 lbs after moving up in weight, Cannonier (13-4) has become a legitimate contender after starting his career as a heavyweight.