Whittaker is excited about Usman's middleweight debut and challenges Nigerian to a duel

R. Whittaker wants to face K. Usman. Photo: Reproduction/Montage SL

Middleweight standout and former category champion, Robert whittaker shows enthusiasm for the arrival of Kamaru Usman e Khamzat Shimaev in the division. Aware of the defeat suffered by the veteran in the UFC 294, the New Zealander shows great interest in competing against the 'Nigerian Nightmare' in the under-83,9kg category.

“I'm happy for Chimaev and Usman, this fight happened. This just adds more blood to the top of the game. This adds more boys to the top of the division. What's next for Usman? Will he stay at middleweight? I don't know. But this fight interests me. I like this fight. I would fight a middleweight Usman,” Whittaker said on his YouTube channel. YouTube.

See too

Cormier ignores Do Bronx and Gaethje and surprises by suggesting the ideal name for Makhachev's next fight

Tom Aspinall reacts to the call-up for an interim title fight and reveals inspiration from a veteran

VIDEO: Watch the moment of the injury that forced Jon Jones to withdraw from UFC 295

As he continued his speech, Robert defended that the Nigerian can venture into the division's elite, despite his debut with defeat.

“I don’t think it’s a bad fight to have. Like, what are you going to do, make Usman fight through thirty to twenty ranks to get to the top level? He definitely deserves to fight at the top of the middleweight division. How well he will do, we'll see. But seeing fresh blood at the top of the game, that's interesting. I hope he stays. Stick around, Usman! It’s fun up here, mate,” he concluded.

Kamaru Usman arriving to fight in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/@UFCEspanol

Despite the declaration of Robert whittaker, Kamaru Usman had already declared, after the UFC 294, who wants to face Dricus Du Plessis in his next appearance. With no answers from the South African, the former welterweight champion (up to 77,1kg) finds himself in the crosshairs of the current third place in the category ranking.

Mike Tyson fires back at criticism about age and sends a message to Jake Paul: 'I like…'