ROBERT Whittaker’s team have opened talks to face UFC superstar Kumaru Usman around the same time as the NRL season launch in Las Vegas, with Australian’s manager revealing: “That’s the only fight that makes sense for us”.

And on the eve of his hyped UFC 295 appearance in Madison Square Garden, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Whittaker’s stablemate Steve Erceg is also keen to join ‘The Reaper’ on a US card in either February or March of 2024 should his own rise continue this Sunday.

Having already gone public with his plan to win a UFC flyweight title within five fights, Erceg is set to make just his second Octagon appearance against Brazil’s Alessandro Costa at MSG this weekend.

Should the 28-year-old West Australian win, his agent Titus Day revealed both the flyweight and Whittaker, who he also manages, would then be ready to go, and even share a card, by February next year.

With UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski already booked for that month’s card — UFC 298 on February 17 — Australia could potentially have three stars fighting only a week before the NRL season launch festivities kick off in Sin City.

Rugby league event organisers have already spoken with Volkanovski about heading to the world’s fight capital after his own showdown, which will take place in the States at a location yet to be revealed.

Whittaker, who was a Cronulla Sharks representative as a teenager, and has since been a wrestling coach with both South Sydney and Penrith premiership sides, would also be an obvious choice to help launch the season.

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Elsewhere, both the Roosters and Manly will be training out of the UFC Performance Institute in the build up to the event.

Erceg, meanwhile, has told Fox Sports Australia he definitely wants to share a card with either Volkanovski or Whittaker in 2024, while also revealing the only man he doesn’t want to oppose on his run to UFC gold – New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France.

But more on that shortly.

First Whittaker, who has already spoken of his interest in fighting Usman, widely considered the greatest UFC welterweight champion not named Georges St Pierre.

Only last month at UFC 294, the Nigerian Nightmare moved up to middleweight against Khamzat Chimaev, in what was billed as a No.1 contender match for UFC champion Sean Strickland.

While Usman lost the decision — which also saw Chimaev injured badly enough to now leave him temporarily sidelined — his performance was strong enough to ensure there is now huge interest in a bout with Whittaker, who is himself coming off an upset loss to South African Dricus Du Plessis.

And with DDP now slated to challenge Strickland for the title at UFC 297 in January, Whittaker is also pushing to fight in either the second or third month of 2024.

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Asked about the prospect of his client facing Usman, Day said: “That’s the only fight that makes sense for us.

“Rob wants to be fighting top five guys. And he’s ready to go.

“He doesn’t want to wait around and see how Strickland versus Du Plessis plays out because that could keep him on the shelf for months.

“And if you beat Rob Whittaker, it guarantees you a title shot.

“So the Usman fight, it makes sense for everyone.

“A battle between two absolute legends of the sport.

“Usman is a big dude, dangerous, and is now moving up in weight to where he should really be.

“Plus when you look around the top five, there is the title fight, Israel Adesanya is taking a break and Jared Cannonier is injured … so Usman is the fight we want.”

Asked about having Whittaker fight within a week of the NRL season launch festivities, Day added: “Our first choice is to fight in February.

“Our second choice is March.

“And Steve is the same, never turns down a fight.”

‘Does it look sexy on me though?’ | 00:37

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Speaking this week from New York, Erceg again confirmed his goal of winning the UFC flyweight title, but revealed he wants to get it done without ever facing New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France.

While Whittaker may have built a wonderful Trans Tasman rivalry with Adesanya – and a storyline, he insists, which is yet to be finished – Erceg said he would rather not face a guy from across the ditch he has never met.

“Because Kai is somebody I always want to see do well,” he said of the fighter who sits at No.5 in the UFC flyweight rankings.

“While I’ve never met him, I have watched the guy locally since way back when I was first starting out.

“(Laughs) Back in the day, I even watched him on a pirate boat, all sorts of stuff.

“So I’ve been aware of Kai a long time and really respect him.

“And being a New Zealander – a fellow Anzac fighter – I want him to do well.

“So he’s not somebody I’m looking to fight.

“And if I can get through without fighting him that would be amazing.

“But if the UFC turns around and says it’s him versus me, I won’t say no.

“Same if he eventually has the title.

“We’ll see how it goes.”

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