Robert Whittaker stepped into the octagon with the daunting task of taking on Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza on the main card of “UFC on FOX 24”. The middleweight division is one of the most stacked weight classes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship today and both men knew what a win on Saturday evening could do for their chances of getting a title shot.
Whittaker shocked the mixed martial arts world when he was able to avoid “Jacare” Souza’s grappling game completely, dictating the pace of the fight and forcing “Jacare” to adapt to his style rather than the other way around.
It did not take long for Whittaker to catch Souza off guard, and it became obvious that “Jacare” was desperately looking for a way to bring the fight to the ground. All of his takedown attempts were shrugged off, all of his tricks to get Whittaker to follow him to the ground were ignored, and Whittaker established himself as the favorite to win after the first round.
Still, nobody could discount Souza due to how dangerous he has been his entire career. Whittaker knew that if one thing went wrong, Souza could capitalize and turn the tables on him. Whittaker landed a stiff shot to the chin of Souza that wobbled him before connecting with an insane headkick that spelled the beginning of the end for Souza. Check out what fighters had to say about the fight below:
This fight has "YUGE" ramifications in the middle weight division. Yuge! #UFCKansasCity
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 16, 2017
Let's go reaper
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) April 16, 2017
I love Jacare but this boy Robert Whitaker is a joy to watch.
— Rex Highwalker (@KCBanditMMA) April 16, 2017
I think Jacare has a broken jaw… #UFCKansasCity
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 16, 2017
Big round for @RJWhittaker1990 @ufc #UFCKansasCity
— Chris Kelades (@keladesmma) April 16, 2017
Wow !!!! #UFCKansasCity
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) April 16, 2017
It's time to stop doubting @RJWhittaker1990 !!!!!!!! Congratulations man.
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 16, 2017
Did anyone see that one coming???
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) April 16, 2017
Well done @RJWhittaker1990! I'm proud of you and so is all of Australia! #UFCKansasCity
— Anthony Perosh (@AnthonyPerosh) April 16, 2017
Damn Whittaker smoked him!!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 16, 2017
Robert Whittaker!! Man, that dude has HANDS!! #UFCKansasCity
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) April 16, 2017
Mario get the fck out of the way!!
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 16, 2017
Wow, seemed like an early stoppage but cant imagine Jacare recovering from those blows. #UFCKansasCity
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 16, 2017
Mario Y needs to move outta the freakn way!! @JacareMMA was rocked but defending and trying to scramble! Props to @RJWhittaker1990 tho
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 16, 2017
What’s next for Whittaker? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
