Family, the gym and video games make up the “perfect three” in life outside the octagon for Robert Whittaker.
The former UFC middleweight champion’s 16-year journey in the sport is well-documented. However, what is not as widely talked about is the fact he is a family man who spends most of his time at home with his wife and kids, whenever he is not in the gym.
“I'm a family man, I've got a big family. So if I'm not at the gym you'll catch me with the kids. I'm big into video games, I enjoy them for my downtime as well,” Whittaker told The National.
“That's something maybe people don't know, I'm not sure. Otherwise, yeah that's me. I'm at the gym, I'm with my kids or I'm at the computer. That's kind of my perfect three.”
It is a different story inside the octagon, though.
“When I'm in the octagon, across from my opponents, it's business, you know. He's trying to take everything from me, I'm trying to take everything from him but I understand that 15-25 minutes, that's as long as it goes for,” he added.
“Outside of that, I'm a dad, I'm a husband, I'm another man. I'm just another person. We all have our strengths and there's a time and place for everything.”
Next month, Whittaker will have to take a step back from family life as he takes on Dutchman Reinier de Ridder in Abu Dhabi.
Whittaker, 34, enjoys a 26-8 win-loss MMA record, compared to his Dutch opponent's 20-2 record. The middleweights headline UFC Fight Night at the Etihad Arena on July 26.
De Ridder made an impressive debut in the UAE Warriors by knocking out Magomedmurad Khasaev in the first round and was immediately signed by the UFC. He is undefeated in three appearances in the world's lead MMA promotion, ending all of them without inside the distance.
“I look forward to hard fights. They bring the best out of me. Obviously, the crowd and the fans enjoy it. But I like the test,” Whittaker said of his upcoming fight.
“I'm not here to fight chumps. I'm here to fight the best. He's well put together. He's got a good skill set. He's high calibre. So, I look forward to putting on a show.”
Whittaker believes success against De Ridder will take him closer to another title shot.
“Yes, victory against RDR pushes me in the path towards gold. That's what I'm trying to head for. That's the direction I want to head to. It makes me a better fighter,” he said.
Whittaker will look into his opponent’s fighting skills and the challenges he may pose, but believes he will make his own assessment of De Ridder closer to the contest.
“I don't do too much research up until a little closer to the fight night. I let my coaching staff do that, so that I work on skill sets without any predisposition in my head,” he added.
“And once this week, next week, the week after, I'll do my own research and then everything will just click and fall into place.”
Whittaker returns to the octagon for the first time since a first-round defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 308 co-main event in Abu Dhabi last October.
There, Chimaev handed Whittaker a chastening defeat, crushing several of his teeth in the process.
“Outstanding,” he said of his preparation for De Ridder. “I got that last month to sharpen up. I'm looking forward to getting in there and looking forward to going back to Abu Dhabi.
“I love fighting over there. So yeah, everything's in place and I'm going to be coming in fight week at 100 per cent.”
I love fighting in Abu Dhabi. I jump at the opportunity. Any opportunity I'm given to fight in Abu Dhabi
Robert Whittaker
Whittaker hopes to arrive in Abu Dhabi 10 days before the fight; this will be his fourth visit to the capital.
“I love fighting in Abu Dhabi. I jump at the opportunity. Any opportunity I'm given to fight in Abu Dhabi, I take it because I just … I know the area now,” he said.
“I know how I got my set-up, my plans for when we get in, and where we're going to train, who we're going to work with. And I know everything's done well and professionally. So I always look forward to the opportunity of fighting there.”
Whittaker has come a long way in combat sports, after moving on from rugby league in his younger days.
“I've always been in combat sports,” he said. “I don't think I played a lot of rugby league when I was younger. Honestly, that's what I thought I'd be doing professionally, but then kind of branched off into MMA, and I'm glad I did. I did all right.
“Right now my trade is combat sports. After I finish up at UFC, I will probably look to do some jiu-jitsu, some coaching.
“I'm not sure if I'll compete anymore after that. I'll cross that bridge when we get there. I've got some things to do still while I'm active.”
And the first of those on his 'to-do' list is the fight in the UAE next month. Preparation for bouts is pretty much routine: gradually move away from the comfort of home and get into fight mode.
“I stay with my family the entire time, but once I leave for the fight, the closer I get to the fight naturally, I start to hone into those instincts and that headspace of what needs to be done,” he said.
“As the weight starts to come off ... it's natural for me now. I've been doing it for so long, and I've been in the sport for so long that it happens naturally. You know, I don't really need to think.
“I want to get that title. That's what I'm fighting for. I'm doing everything in my power to beat RDR and that'll push me in the direction that I need to go to get rematches or fights with people that are holding the strap.”
Whittaker will not be completely alone in his journey in Abu Dhabi as his family will join him for the contest.
“I can't wait to come out there once again, put on a show, bring my family this time so they can enjoy the area as well ... I look forward to it.”
Tickets for the UFC Fight Night at the Etihad Arena on July 26 are available at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae.
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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the pledge
I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance
I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice
I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own
I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself
I pledge to live in harmony with my community
I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness
I pledge to do my part to create peace for all
I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community
I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
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Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
