Robert Whittaker

New Zealand-born, Sydney-raised fighter who became the first Australian to win a UFC title, first as interim then undisputed champion.

Robert John Whittaker was born on 20 December 1990 in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealand, and moved to Australia as a child, where his father enrolled him and his brother in a Gōjū-ryū karate school at age seven. He went on to represent Australia's national freestyle wrestling team before turning professional in mixed martial arts in 2009. Whittaker won the welterweight tournament on the first series of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, before moving up to middleweight, where he developed into one of the most technically well-rounded strikers in the division, training out of Sydney's Gracie Jiu Jitsu Smeaton Grange. Whittaker won the interim UFC Middleweight Championship in 2017, defeating Yoel Romero, and was promoted to undisputed champion later that year when Georges St-Pierre vacated the title, becoming the first Australian fighter ever to win a UFC championship. Whittaker, nicknamed "The Reaper," lost his title to Israel Adesanya in 2019 but has continued to compete at an elite level, remaining one of the most respected and consistently competitive middleweights in UFC history across a career spanning more than 15 years.

Whittaker is known for his well-rounded skillset combining excellent striking with solid wrestling and grappling abilities. His striking is built on a strong karate and kickboxing foundation, featuring crisp combinations, effective head movement, and powerful counter-punching. He demonstrates excellent fight IQ and cardio, allowing him to maintain a high pace throughout championship rounds.

Whittaker became the first UFC champion from Australia and New Zealand, helping to elevate the profile of MMA in the region and inspiring a new generation of fighters.

• UFC Interim Middleweight Champion 2017, vs Yoel Romero, promoted to undisputed champion
• title defence vs Romero at UFC 225, 2018