Robert Whittaker Defeats Yoel Romero To Become Interim UFC Champion

On Saturday, UFC 213 took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event was the final event of UFC’s annual International Fight Week.

In the main event, the UFC crowned an interim champion in their stacked middleweight division. Top contenders Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker fought for their first taste of UFC gold.

Both fighters threw kicks early but couldn’t find their mark. Romero briefly dropped Whittaker with a side kick. Whitaker landed a clean jab, while Romero landed a kick. Romero landed a takedown and took Whittaker’s back, but Whittaker got right up to his feet. Romero went for a flying knee but it was blocked. He then went for a takedown, but Whittaker stayed on his feet. Whittaker landed a front kick that flew Romero across the cage. At the end of the round, Whittaker got a takedown but Whittaker popped right back to his feet.

Whittaker looked light on his feet early in the second round, despite saying he hurt his leg to his corner in between rounds. Romero later landed a takedown, and this time secured top position. Romero landed multiple short punches on the ground. Whittaker moved to his stomach and got back to his feet. However, Romero kept his clinch and got Whittaker against the cage. Eventually, Romero got another takedown, but Whittaker stood right back up. In the final minute, the referee separated the fighters. Whittaker began swinging but was pushed back up against the cage and was taken down at the end of the round.

Whittaker threw front kicks to start the third round, but he couldn’t land. Romero went for a takedown but Whittaker stuffed it. Whittaker clipped Romero with a clean punch. Whittaker started having success landing his kicks. Romero went for a few takedowns but didn’t complete them. At the end of the round, Whittaker attacked Romero with him close to the cage.

Whittaker landed a high kick that seemed to hurt Romero, who then attempted a takedown early in round four. Romero couldn’t get the fight to the ground but he did get Whittaker against the cage. Whittaker managed to fight his way free. Romero went for another takedown to no avail. Romero went for a flying knee but didn’t land clean. Whittaker began having success with punches and front kicks. Whittaker stunned Romero late in the round but wasn’t able to finish the fight.

Whittaker and Romero traded brutal punches to start the final round. Whittaker landed a knee and Romero responded with a hard left hand. Both fighters were clearly tired but they continued to throw shots. Whittaker continued to land front kicks. Whittaker busted Romero open. Whittaker landed a low kick that knocked Romero to the ground. Whittaker jumped on top of Romero and secured top position. The fight ended with Whittaker landing hard elbows on the ground.

Official Result:

Robert Whittaker def. Yoel Romero by unanimous decision to win the Interim UFC Middleweight Championship 48-47, 48-47, 48-47