When I made the UFC, everyone said, 'You need to go overseas.' I thought I had to go as well, and I went to Tristar Gym, and I was there for one or two years. But changes were needed. I'd come off back-to-back losses - Court McGee and Stephen Thompson - and I needed to look at my roots and go back to the drawing board.

Robert Whittaker

The journey has moulded me into the person I am today. The journey of my mixed martial arts experience has been filled with ups and downs, but through that, I have come out a much better man.

Robert Whittaker

I started training with Fabricio Itte with my wrestling and high performance; I started spending a lot more time with my head coach Henry Perez and also my grappling coach Alex Prates. Those three are my core team, and they've made hugely important changes and skill enhancements with my game.

Robert Whittaker

I'm very proud of my heritage and the blood that runs through my veins. I take a lot of strength from that.

Robert Whittaker

My mother's Maori, and my father's Australian. I take my strength from both my ancestors, and I'm really privileged.

Robert Whittaker

I've got to give props to my dad. He got me into the UFC and the MMA scene to begin with.

Robert Whittaker

It's an absolute honour and privilege to get out there and be an Australian headlining an Australian card. That's unreal; it really is.

Robert Whittaker

Every time I step out there in the Octagon, I aim to do Australia proud. And this isn't for popularity or a fan base; it has never been for that. It's just because I love my country, and I want to show the world what we're doing down here.

Robert Whittaker

When I made the UFC, everyone said, 'You need to go overseas.' I thought I had to go as well, and I went to Tristar Gym, and I was there for one or two years. But changes were needed. I'd come off back-to-back losses - Court McGee and Stephen Thompson - and I needed to look at my roots and go back to the drawing board.

Robert Whittaker

I'm hugely into video games; I always have been. I started on the Sega with games like Sonic, Battletoads, and Tetris... all those old-school games.

Robert Whittaker

I like to think I learn a lot out of every fight.

Robert Whittaker

Everyone needs an objective, and everyone needs a goal, and it was frustrating just kind of being at a standstill.

Robert Whittaker

No fighter wants to risk getting ring rust.

Robert Whittaker

It's coffee - if I have just the right amount, I come across as charismatic. One too many, and it's like I'm having a seizure.

Robert Whittaker

I just don't want to be a champion; I want to be one of the best fighters there ever was.

Robert Whittaker

I hit hard, and I hit fast - much faster than Bisping, much harder than Bisping, and I have much better defence than Bisping.

Robert Whittaker

It's a very funny topic, missing weight and getting title shots. I think the punishments should be more severe, but I don't know.

Robert Whittaker

I vigorously train in my jui jitsu and my wrestling, but my stand-up game gives me a huge advantage in defending take-downs.

Robert Whittaker

Fighter, father, husband - it's all the same person. I know the UFC stereotype is that we're all thugs. But I'd like people to know that I don't have to switch one off to try to be another. Being a father and a fighter, it's who I am.

Robert Whittaker

I think the mental preparation isn't something that you can work on in one large sum. It has to be a collective collaboration of doing little things for your mental state constantly throughout the prep and managing your life outside the Octagon, managing your life in transit to the Octagon, managing your life once you get to training.

Robert Whittaker

The reason I fight is to provide for my family, and I cannot risk having that taken away.

Robert Whittaker