Robert Whittaker (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Robert Whittaker has fought Yoel Romero on two occasions now, but the UFC middleweight champ says the version he faced last weekend at UFC 225, was a much tougher one.

Whittaker faced Romero for the first time last July and won the bout via unanimous decision. In their recent rematch, however, Whittaker won the fight via split decision, but some observers had Romero winning the bout, or the fight scored as a draw.

One of the key story lines in the rematch, was that Whittaker broke his hand early in the bout. Despite the injury, however, Whittaker still managed to land 128 strikes. In their first bout he landed 74.

More recently, Whittaker spoke with MMA Junkie, and while discussing the injury, and the rematch itself, the champ said this:

“I accumulated a lot of total significant strikes with just the one hand and the kicks,” Whittaker said.

“For him just to keep walking through like that was ridiculous,” Whittaker added. “Especially in the sense that I had fought him a year ago, and he wasn’t walking through shots like that a year ago. Whatever kung-fu stuff he was working on in the year time, it definitely paid dividends.”

Whittaker also said that he does not believe he should have to face Romero again, on account of the fact he’s defeated the Cuban star twice, and because the wrestler missed weight for UFC 225.