ROBERT Whittaker has no interest in “acting like an idiot” to try and force a trilogy bout with Israel Adesanya – while also insisting South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis can also only get to UFC gold via him.

Only days after Adesanya reclaimed the middleweight title at UFC 287, Whittaker has responded to suggestions he should be overlooked as next man up for a range of rival challengers – among them Jan Blachowicz, Khamzat Chimaev, Jamahal Hill, even du Plessis.

Should Australia’s first UFC champ be overlooked for a title trilogy showdown with the New Zealand superstar, he says it should be him — not Adesanya — who fights the No.6 ranked du Plessis at International Fight Week.

Watch UFC 288: Sterling v Cejudo LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday May 7 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >

Whittaker added that no other fighter in the middleweight division made sense for him, including American Sean Strickland who, ranked No.7, is “too low”.

The 32-year-old also hit back at claims he should be publicly “demanding” a trilogy bout with Adesanya, who has already beaten him twice.

Earlier this week, popular US podcaster Chael Sonnen even revealed a Whittaker-Adesanya trilogy was “the last thing” UFC executives want to happen.

Sonnen went on to suggest that, during the pair’s second fight in 2022, the Aussie star did not do enough to hype the fight, saying “Whittaker’s involvement did not make people happy”.

It is not the first time UFC executives have apparently been upset with Whittaker’s low-key approach to fight promotion, despite him now having gone nine years and 13 fights without loss to anyone not named Adesanya.

Speaking about a potential trilogy fight, Sonnen said: “Putting Whittaker into that spot could happen. But it’s the last thing they (UFC) want.

“I’m going to word it like that and just be nice.

“Whittaker’s involvement in their rematch did not make people happy … I’ll leave it at that”.

Yet speaking with Fox Sports Australia on Friday, Whittaker insisted there was no way he would try and talk his way into a third title fight because “if I went out there acting like an idiot my dad would kick my arse”.

Asked about Sonnen’s suggestion the UFC did not want to give him next at Adesanya, Whittaker shrugged: “Well, I can see where he’s coming from.

“My work inside the Octagon, it’s always spoken louder than anything I’ve said outside of it.

“And I’m not about to change.

“I’m not going to put on some mask to get that Adesanya fight.

“I’m not throwing out demands or making a big show of this, either.

“I’m just not.”

Pushed on being more outspoken like, say, Sonnen, Michael Bisping, or even Colby Covington to guarantee himself an immediate trilogy bout, Whittaker continued: “The UFC love storylines and good luck to them.

“They’re a business so title shots aren’t always merit based.

“And I’m not pointing fingers or blaming anyone, that’s just the truth.

“Which is fine.

“It just means I’ve had to work a little harder than some other fighters to get my title shots.

“But (despite that) I didn’t complain initially, and I won’t complain now.

“Because down at my gym some days, a parent will come up to me and say ‘Rob, you’re a great role model for my son’.

“That’s what it’s all about for me.

“It’s only a small thing too, but if I went out there acting like an idiot, my dad would kick my arse.

“He’s proud of me.

“Proud of me as a man and staying true to who I am. That means something.

“So I’ll stay true to who I am and just continue starching everyone the UFC put in front of me.

“And I’ll do that until they run out of bodies.

“Then it’s me and Adesanya.”

WHITTAKER V DU PLESSIS

ROBERT Whittaker says Sean Strickland is “too low” in the UFC rankings to get next crack at him – and says South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis is the only logical fight if he isn’t granted a title shot next.

While talks are already building for a championship bout between du Plessis and Adesanya – plus, that storyline about who the most ‘real’ African fighter – Whittaker says the only road to a title is through him.

The division’s No.1 contender also said there was no way he should have to fight Strickland next, as has been suggested.

“Bit too low on the ladder,” Whittaker said.

“Among middleweights, I’m the number one contender. Always have been, even with Pereira jumping the queue.

“So if you want the two best guys in the world to stand opposite one another – the two who are really best – then it’s myself and Adesanya.

“That’s just facts.”

If Whittaker isn’t given a title shot however, he wants du Plessis because “he’s the only guy in the top five I haven’t beaten.”

But what chance the UFC allows you to potentially ruin any chance of a future showdown between the South African and Adesanya?

“Well, what a storyline if he beats me,” Whittaker grinned.

“He won’t though.

“But if he wants to try jump the queue, I’ll bash him first.

“And then there’s nobody left.”

So as for talk of potentially giving du Plessis a title shot ahead of you?

“The whole South African thing with Izzy, yeah, it’s a story,” he said. “But I don’t think du Plessis has a lot of value just yet.

“I think he has work to do before he gets that shot.

“But who knows?

“He’s a good fighter, strong boy.

“But I’ve fought 100 strong boys. They’re kind of my favourite fights.”

Whittaker added he wants to fight twice more this year, adding: “And if it isn’t against Adesanya next then I’d like to go in International Fight Week”.

VOLK: RODRIGUEZ BIGGER THREAT THAN MAX

ALEXANDER Volkanovski has labelled Yair Rodriguez a bigger threat to his UFC featherweight crown than even Hawaiian legend Max Holloway, saying: “He brings more dangerous problems”.

As first revealed by The Takedown last month, Volkanovski is keen to headline International Fight Week by defending against Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July.

While the Mexican striker lost to Holloway in 2021, he has since secured back-to-back wins over fellow contenders Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett – the latter of which secured him the division’s interim title.

Asked about Rodriguez this week, Volkanovski said he rated the 30-year-old’s unpredictable fight style as more dangerous than even Holloway.

The Great famously took Holloway’s title back in 2019, before then defending against him twice more in what eventually became a lopsided trilogy.

“I think Yair Rodriguez is the division’s biggest threat when it comes to striking,” Volkanovski conceded.

“He’s a dangerous fighter.

“Unpredictable.

“And while Max Holloway brings his own set of problems, I think (Rodriguez) has more dangerous problems.

“Obviously Max can be unpredictable to other people, but because I’ve got a good understanding of him, he isn’t unpredictable for me.

“And Max mainly uses his hands.

“With Yair Rodriguez though, anything can be coming, at any time, and from any range.

“He’s a lot more unpredictable.

“He’s a big threat”.

In a recent interview, Rodriguez said there were still “holes” in his game which would need to be fixed before the pair square off in July.

“But everyone has holes in their game,” Volkanovski continued.

“Especially fighters who are unpredictable.

“And those holes can be dangerous.

“Because when you go to capitalise (against Rodriguez), because he’s so unpredictable he throws something that shouldn’t work.

“There are certain openings – times where you shouldn’t be in danger – but then you go to take it and get punched from an angle that has you thinking ‘where the f… did that come from?’.

“So being unpredictable, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.

“Even off his back, Yair has that Brian Ortega approach where he’ll fall into a submission.

“Which is risky.

“Because if you don’t get it, especially with me … if you fall on your back to jump into a triangle you better get it or I’m punching your head straight through that canvas.

“(laughs) And we’re clever dudes.

“So while I am talking Yair Rodriguez up, I’ll still get the job done.

“One hundred per cent I’ll get the job done.”

HOLLOWAY WANTS VOLK – AGAIN

MAX Holloway insists he can still get a fourth shot at UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski – despite having lost all three of their previous bouts.

Holloway faces Arnold Allen at UFC Kansas City this Sunday in what he insists is another step back towards Australia’s No.1 fighter.

Asked about his goal against Allen, the Hawaiian replied: “Make a statement.

“That’s in my mind. Just remind people. I guess I got a little Roy Jones in me. Y’all must’ve forgot.”

While Holloway knows it’s not going to be easy to get back to Volkanovski, he pointed to Israel Adesanya’s title win over Alex Pereira at UFC 287 as proof it can happen.

Pereira had previously beaten Adesanya three times, although two of those were in kickboxing.

“I’m still here, right in front of him,” Holloway said of Volkanovski.

“People keep giving me a hard time ‘how are we going to do the fourth?’ and blah, blah, blah.

“Watching [Adesanya] last week was pretty inspiring. At the end of the day, anything can happen. I go out there and put a statement out there, who’s to say what happens.”

VOLK QUESTIONS CHARLO DELAY

STILL on Volkanovski and the champ has questioned if American boxing star Jermell Charlo is “threatened” by Australia’s Tim Tszyu.

Despite breaking his hand last December, Charlo has now delayed his world title unification bout with Tszyu for a second time, prompting the undefeated Sydneysider to take another stay busy bout.

While Tszyu initially wanted the rematch to be no later than July, Team Charlo are now saying the Las Vegas blockbuster won’t happen until late August or September.

It means the super welterweight king will have had eight months to recover from the training mishap.

Only last year however, Volkanovski was back in the gym just three weeks after having as many screws inserted into his broken left hand.

The UFC featherweight champ was also back into full contact after 12 weeks and on standby for a lightweight world title fight within three months of the injury.

“So could Charlo be fighting by July? Absolutely,” Volkanovski said.

“But who knows? Maybe he wants to ease in? Or maybe he sees Tim as a threat and wants more time to prepare?

“Personally, I don’t get it (the delay).

“I was back in the gym a week after surgery.

“I was on the bike, doing strength programs, I was even hitting pads with one hand … I’m always going to make it work.

“And that’s what I believe separates me from everyone else.

“I adapt and make it work.”

CRUTE PLANS THAI CAMP

AUSTRALIAN light heavyweight Jimmy Crute is headed to Thailand in the next couple of weeks for a training camp that will include fellow rising star Jack Jenkins.

While Crute does not have an upcoming bout booked, the Melburnian is keen to get back into the Octagon after fighting his way back to secure a gutsy draw against Alonzo Menifield at UFC 284.