Australian middleweight contender Robert Whittaker outlasted Paulo Costa in a three-round war, taking a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x 2, 30-27) to rebound from his knockout loss to Dricus du Plessis.
Whittaker, who had for so long dominated anyone not named Israel Adesanya in the division, found himself at somewhat of a career crossroads on Sunday after his last defeat to du Plessis.
While that loss in reality aged quite well given du Plessis went on to win the championship, the pressure was still on Whittaker to put himself back in the title frame at UFC 298 – and he delivered.
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“I’m looking to make amends with Dricus. I’m not going anywhere. I’m back,” Whittaker said post-fight.
Costa got through with two slick head kicks in the early stages of the first round while Whittaker later had his rival backing up with a perfectly-timed counter right hand.
It was a calculated opening from both fighters, with Whittaker in particular starting to get through with his combinations and seemingly looked on his way to take the opening round of the bout.
That was until Costa put an exclamation mark on the final 10 seconds of the round, stunning Whittaker with a stunning spinning head kick that could have easily ended the fight.
The Australian though was able to stay on his feet and survive until the bell, leaving UFC Hall of Fame fighter Michael Bisping impressed in commentary.
“The fact Whittaker stayed on his feet, that is incredible,” Bisping said.
Whittaker recovered well from that late setback to land some early strikes in the second round, later checking another head kick from Costa before firing one of his own at the Brazilian, who blocked it and stuck his tongue out at the Australian, confident and comfortable in the position he found himself in at that point of the fight.
Whittaker was left bloodied by the end of the second but stepped it up by mixing up his offence, although if there was one constant for the former champion it was the continued success he found with his calf kicks as the fight went to a third and final round.
Whittaker was able to get through with a big right hand but Costa ate it right up, showing little sign of slowing down as he used low kicks to close the distance on the Australian.
Costa attempted another spinning head kick but Whittaker was alert to it and moved out of the way as the fight entered its final 60 seconds.
Whittaker looked to have briefly hurt Costa with a beautiful low kick and was in general landing more shots in the final stages of the round, then shooting for a takedown but unsuccessful as the co-main event went the distance in what Jon Anik described as an “instant classic”.