Robert Whittaker (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Now that it looks as though Georges St-Pierre will not be defending the UFC’s middleweight title, the promotion is reportedly close to finalizing a February 10th bout between Robert Whittaker and Luke Rockhold.

According to a report from MMA Fighting, the UFC is close to booking a fight between Whittaker and Rockhold, for the Perth, Australia card. It’s not known yet, however, whether the fight will be for the undisputed middleweight title, or the interim belt Whittaker won last July, by defeating Yoel Romero.

The report comes not long after St-Pierre reported in an interview that he doesn’t think he’ll compete at middleweight again. Since St-Pierre choked out Michael Bisping last month to become the 185 champion, it’s been confirmed that the Canadian star has been diagnosed with colitis.