Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker may get another shot at reclaiming his lost title. An impressive performance in the co-main event of UFC 254 saw Whittaker emerge with a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier, 29-28 across the board.
Both fighters had their moments in the first round. Cannonier focused on slowing Whittaker with multiple leg kicks, but was unable to keep up with Whittaker's striking. Whittaker's leg was reddened but he was effective in working the jab and occasionally snuck in some right hands.
It was more of the same to start the second. Cannonier continued to chop at his opponent's leg, but Whittaker adjusted and started countering the shots. Whittaker also started mixing in some high kicks which would set the stage for things to come in the third. Whittaker continued to work the jabs and attack his opponent with plenty of volume.
While Whittaker figured to be ahead heading into the final frame, the truth is the fight could've been going either way. Showing his championship prowess, Whittaker came out aggressive and landed a combination capped by a kick to the head that sent Cannonier stumbling around the Octagon before falling to the canvas. It looked like Whittaker might get the finish but Cannonier somehow managed to fight his way back to his feet.
Bloodied and probably losing the round, Cannonier showed incredible heart and almost mounted a stunning comeback. WIth around 45 seconds left, Cannonier caught Whittaker with a right hand that appeared to hurt the former champion. Rather than try and trade blows, Whittaker smartly went for the clinch and takedown to ride out the remainder of the fight.
In the end, all three judges scored in favor of Robert Whittaker. Check out the scorecards below.
Whittaker has now won two straight fights since losing in the UFC middleweight championship to Israel Adesanya in October 2019. More importantly, he remains the No. 1 contender and will probably get another crack at the title. Adesanya recently defended the belt against Paulo Costa in September so it's possible the two could meet in the early half of next year.