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Robert Whittaker underwent emergency surgery only a fortnight out from his hyped KO win over Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia – while unable to train, sleep or even eat – and must now consult with doctors before making any decision about a blockbuster UFC 305 appearance.
Fox Sports Australia can reveal Whittaker was rushed for surgery on a severe mouth abscess only 24 hours before jetting to the Middle East for the highlight reel win that now sees him being talked up for a title shot.
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Headlining the UFC’s hyped Saudi Arabian debut last Sunday, Bobby Knuckles finished Aliskerov — one of the middleweight division’s most hyped prospects — within less than two minutes thanks to a ferocious onslaught that included a brutal right uppercut.
Given the Sydneysider won without taking any punishment, talk immediately switched to him competing UFC 305 in just eight weeks time.
The upcoming Australian Pay-Per-View event takes place on August 18 at RAC Arena, Perth.
On Tuesday, Whittaker’s agent Titus Day confirmed discussions have already commenced around Whittaker either fighting on the card or acting as a backup for the main event – which sees UFC champ Dricus du Plessis defend against Israel Adesanya.
Day added, however, that before any decision is made, his client must first consult with doctors to see what surgery is still required on his teeth, explaining how he went under the knife only a day before finishing the Aussie portion of his camp.
Ironically, the drama unfolded while the sport’s spotlight was focused on Irish megastar Conor McGregor withdrawing from UFC 303, and then Whittaker’s initial opponent Khamzat Chimaev also pulling out of the historic Saudi card with an undisclosed injury.
So bad was Whittaker being troubled by the mouth abscess however, he was unable to train for the final three days of camp in Sydney and then underwent root canal surgery before flying out for a final fortnight of preparations in the Middle East.
“Rob has a really bad abscess that flared up a week before flying out,” Day explained.
“He had headaches, tooth pain, it was like he’d been kicked in the side of the head.
“He couldn’t train, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep.
“It was f…ing painful.
“The whole side of his head was in pain so we had to rush him in for emergency surgery.”
Incredibly, that came only a day before he and his team flew out for Dubai, where they then spent around 10 days before jetting into Riyadh for fight week.
“Rob had already stopped training a few days prior to the surgery in Sydney,” Day continued.
“And then flew out with his face still numb.
“We had no idea if it was going to be alright.
“Everyone was just praying the swelling would go down and everything would be OK.
“And thankfully, it was.
“But Rob’s still got pain there.
“Still needs more surgery to be done in the next couple of weeks.”
Asked the cause, Day continued: “It came out of nowhere.
“A few fights back, Rob got cracked and his lower teeth moved a bit and he was going to have surgery to fix that.
“But instead, he decided to get it done later.
“But the abscess popped up out of nowhere.”
Given UFC 305 is only eight weeks away, Team Whittaker will now convene in coming days, and then meet with the fighter’s medical crew, before deciding what is next.
“Right now, regarding Perth, it’s just too early to say,” Day conceded.
“Obviously there was a lot of talk on the night about Rob being the backup for that UFC 305 main event.
“There was also talk about him fighting somebody else, too.
“And potentially, he could still do either of those.
“He’ll have to meet with the team and talk it through.
“Rob’s also promised his family a holiday so until he discusses it with his family, with his coaches and doctor, we don’t know.”
Day stressed, however, that if Whittaker agrees to fight at UFC 305, he will not necessarily demand that it involves him being on standby for the main event.
Immediately after winning on the weekend, Whittaker suggested he would be ready to go for the Perth event.
“I told everybody I’m the bogeyman,” he said inside the Octagon immediately afterwards.
“I’m the best in the world and I’m the most dangerous matchup for anyone in the division.
“I’m the most dangerous middleweight in the world.
“I’ll take a fight anywhere any time and I proved it tonight.
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“I’ll prove it again, I’ll fight anyone.”
Asked if he was still interested in being the backup for Du Plessis versus Adesanya, he replied “I’m healthy, I’m hearty, let’s go!”.
His manager agreed that, if healthy, he would be available for Australia’s next Pay-Per-View event.
“Rob doesn’t like to wait but he also doesn’t pick and choose,” Day said.
“If he says he’s in for Perth, it can be as the back-up fighter, against a guy like Sean Strickland, against whoever else the UFC put forward.
“But the question we have to deal with first is ‘will Rob be ready?’.”
Elsewhere, Aliskerov has also taken to social media to state that, despite the result, he has no regrets stepping up on short notice.
“Alhamdulilla, no excuses,” he wrote.
“I don’t regret anything.
“It was a big experience against one of the best in the sport.
“I’m young, I’ll work on my mistakes, learn and get back into business soon.
“Thank to everyone for support messages.”
A former combat sambo world champion, Aliskerov debuted in the UFC only last year — scoring impressive knockout victories over Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves.
The loss to Whittaker is his first in the Octagon and only the second of his career, following a knockout defeat against Khamzat Chimaev in Brave FC back in 2019
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