Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Kiwi-born, Australian-based MMA fighter, Robert Whittaker (18-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) put on an absolute clinic of well-timed, technically-gifted, difficult-to-predict striking to pull off an upset win over Brazilian Ronaldo 'Jacare' De Souza (23-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC on Fox 24 this morning. His second round TKO stoppage is the first time in nearly nine years Jacare has been stopped.Whittaker, who has long been seen by UFC president, Dana White as someone who should be fighting top five UFC fighters, came into the bout as a 2-1 underdog. The victory is sure to increase the ANZAC's bargaining power as he seeks to force a fight with British UFC middleweight belt-holder, Michael Bisping. Here's how it unfoldedRound OneBegins with the multiple-time Brazilian jiujitsu champion, Jacare, trying feverishly to get Whittaker to the mat. Whittaker, himself a purple belt in the martial art, shows he can roll with the best as the pair exchange in a torrid back and forth on the ground. Whittaker does well to avoid getting jammed against the side of the octagon before finding his feet and proceeding to pick Jacare off with well-timed punches and his trademark bamboozling left-fake. His damaging left hook is already finding its mark by the end of the first spelling danger for Jacare.
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Round TwoStarts with a bang inside Jacare's dome as Whittaker opens with a kick to the body, setting up the mother of left-right combos. The right sends Jacare to the canvas, avoiding a knockout by a whisker. Whittaker does well to maintain composure, opting not to follow Jacare to the mat and wait for a reset instead.
The striking masterclass continues with a brutal right uppercut to the chin. A right kick to the head and Jacare is looking shaky. Another jarring left hook to the head and the Brazilian part-time youth worker is barely surviving. Another big left staggers Jacare before a simultaneous right punch-kick combo sends him to the mat for the final time. A rudimentary ground and pound earns Whittaker a TKO stoppage three minutes and 28 seconds into the second. Whittaker is now 6-0 since moving to middleweight and used the winner's platform to call out British middleweight belt-holder, Michael Bisping."Bisping owes me a fight," Whittaker said. "We were supposed to fight all those weeks ago and he's cool doing his own thing, but you owe me a fight."[Robert Whittaker: Rise Of The Australian Reaper](Whittaker is now 6-0 since moving to middleweight and used the winner's platform to call out British belt holder, Bisping.)