Whittaker out all of 2018 with injury
Robert Whittaker: “It’s still only several weeks from surgery so I’m still working on it. … Realistically, I’m looking at like February of next year.”
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show via the magic of phone, and explained that the broken hand he suffered in Round 1 vs. Yoel Romero will likely keep him out of the Octagon until February of 2018.
It’s still only several weeks from surgery so I’m still working on it, said Whittaker, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. I can’t even start a rehab process yet, it’s more of just letting it heal and letting it set properly first before I can even implement that. They put a plate and some screws. People don’t know this but also I did ligament damage in my left hand but obviously, the attention was drawn to the broken one…
I definitely won’t be ready before next year. My hand rehab — both hands — I have to get to 100 percent with my hands before I can start rehab. The healing process has to be done before I can even start a rehab program and then I need strengthen my hand up to 100 percent. Then, when I’m a 100 percent, I’d like to get a little bit of training done. Realistically, I’m looking at like February of next year.
Whittaker is using the downtime productively, appearing as the coach opposite Kelvin Gastelum in the latest and perhaps last season of The Ultimate Fighter.
This is a perfect time to do it because my training is kind of slow at the moment due to my injuries, so why not? said Whittaker. I was honored to be given the opportunity, first and foremost. But to be able to coach where I started, it’s definitely a funny feeling, a little bit of symbolism there to finish up the TUF series where I kind of kicked everything off.
Gastelum recently suggested that the damage Whittaker has taken could have permanent effects.
I don’t know if he is going to be the same fighter after those fights, said Gastelum. These wars that he’s been in, it takes a toll on the body, so we’ll see how he comes out after this hand surgery.
Whittaker suggested the fights left him a better fighter.
I think all damage that you take inside the octagon is real and should be taking seriously but I’m not worried that it’ll have any effect on my performance, said Whittaker. I haven’t even reached my peak yet, the peak of my potential. This hard fight, if anything, is going to mold me and shape me as to how I approach fights from now on. I think everyone has to have their mettle tested in a tough fight and that was one of them for me.