Whittaker (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Israel Adesanya is receiving widespread praise for how he took out Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 on Saturday night. But, the now-former middleweight champ believes he was having success against the vaunted striker, before being stopped in round two.

Whittaker was dropped by Adesanya shortly before round one ended, and in round two, the latter ended the fight with at thumping left hook. While speaking to the media afterward, Whittaker had this take on how the fight had gone (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“Obviously I’m disappointed, but I took the fight to him,” Whittaker said. “Me and him are two of the best strikers in the world, and it was tit for tat, and I got caught. It happens. He beat me tonight, but I’m 28. This is my first loss in the division and trust me when I say I’m not going anywhere.

“I wasn’t in awe of his striking, and I was confident in my own, and I was having great success. I need to work on that check-hook defense. We went out there and put our hearts on it, and it happens. We’re two of the best strikers in the world together, and that’s what happens. Someone is going to get caught, and unfortunately tonight it was me.”

According to the UFC Stats page, Adesanya outstruck Whittaker by a 40-32 to margin. But, the new, undisputed champion landed 42% of the time, while Whittaker scored with only 27% of his strikes.