Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has withdrawn from his proposed UFC 275 bout with Marvin Vettori — and the Italian has made his call as to who he would like to fill the gap.
The two 185-pounders were slated to meet on the June 11 card but it was revealed in recent hours that Whittaker has pulled out of the fight after revealing that he suffered an undisclosed injury in training. It is the latest such setback for Whittaker, who has experienced several injuries in recent years. He most recently fought in February where he came up short in a title rematch against current champ Israel Adesanya.
Sorry to say guys due to an injury I took early in the camp I’m not able to compete in June. I did everything I could to get it right but its not healing in time. All this means is that I’ll be back in the octagon a couple months later and I’ll be better than ever 👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/Q0PEtjxDfs
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) April 21, 2022
“Sorry to say guys due to an injury I took early in the camp I’m not able to compete in June,” Whittaker wrote on Twitter. “I did everything I could to get it right but its not healing in time. All this means is that I’ll be back in the octagon a couple months later and I’ll be better than ever.”
Vettori, who is no stranger to late changes to opponents, quickly took to Twitter to fire shots about both Khamzat Chimaev and Darren Till, the two fighters who have forged an unlikely friendship in recent times.
We’re back at this.
I think I’m the only 185er that can say that has never pulled out of a fight but anyway smash boys I’ll get you back to back lets do it I’m willing to die just show up @KChimaev @darrentill2 @Mickmaynard2 @AliAbdelaziz00 @danawhite— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) April 20, 2022
“We’re back at this,” Vettori wrote. :I think I’m the only 185er that can say that has never pulled out of a fight but anyway smash boys I’ll get you back to back lets do it I’m willing to die just show up.”
It remains to be seen if either Till or Chimaev will take up the offer. Chimaev appears to be concentrating on welterweight at the moment following his win against Gilbert Burns which catapulted him up the 170-pound rankings but Till, a middleweight, could potentially make more sense.
There have been rumblings that the UFC could be positioning themselves for a return to Liverpool this summer — and a Darren Till vs. Marvin Vettori fight would likely be a suitable headliner.
Expect more to be revealed in the coming days and weeks.
