Media Bragging Rights: Whittaker vs de Ridder - Who wins and how?

[BabyBlue_Bomber]

I’m thinking Whittaker stops him late…

This is a big step up in class for De Ridder, regardless of how past his prime Whittaker is…

Don’t forget, Aliskerov had a lot of momentum coming into his fight with Whittaker, but hadn’t fought anyone at Whittaker’s level. I do think that De Ridder has fought and beaten better competition than Aliskerov, but Whittaker is still a big jump in competition…

It’s going to be interesting to see who this one plays out…

 

[svmr_db]

Healthy teeth Whittaker by round 3 TKO

 

[188912345]

Of the last 5 of Khamzat's opponents pre Whittaker, 4 of them went on to win their next fight.

Holland didn't, he lost to Wonderboy, but then won his following two by finish.

That + Whittaker's ability to bounce back from losses before give me slightly more confidence in my pick.

 

[Gamboal]

Kinda pathetic how so many are in love with 'Rob', never seen anything like it. Yeh seems like a decent guy I guess but the fandom he receives crosses over into a sort of mass man-crush. It blinds people to reality.

He's way past it, he's chinny, and he's small for the division.

That said, RDR isn't on Khamzat or DDP level, but he should have enough to beat the aging Whittaker.

 

[Safton]

Kinda pathetic how so many are in love with 'Rob', never seen anything like it. Yeh seems like a decent guy I guess but the fandom he receives crosses over into a sort of mass man-crush. It blinds people to reality.

He's way past it, he's chinny, and he's small for the division.

That said, RDR isn't on Khamzat or DDP level, but he should have enough to beat the aging Whittaker.

I feel like we've entered a weird twilight zone where the "You guys are blinded by Rob's nice guy persona and former skills!" crowd are arguably more misguided in some of their assessments than the blind Rob fanboys themselves, though.

I would not say Rob is "way past it". In between the fights where he gets beaten by dudes like Khamzat or Dricus or Izzy or whatever, he is still consistently winning bouts against ranked/streaking guys in fairly dominant fashion. People talk about Whittaker like he's Tony Ferguson following the Gaethje fight instead of the solid Top 5 gatekeeper/fringe contender that he is.

I'm a fan of RDR and in fact I like him more than Whittaker... but I personally have not seen enough to be utterly convinced that he's levels above the likes of Cannonier/Costa/Aliskerov/etc. nor that he's some future title threat who will assuredly smoke Rob, despite Whittaker having lost a step. Maybe I'll be proven wrong. I think this is a closely-matched fight that marks a potential changing of the guard and both guys have a good chance of winning.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Kinda pathetic how so many are in love with 'Rob', never seen anything like it. Yeh seems like a decent guy I guess but the fandom he receives crosses over into a sort of mass man-crush. It blinds people to reality.

He's way past it, he's chinny, and he's small for the division.

That said, RDR isn't on Khamzat or DDP level, but he should have enough to beat the aging Whittaker.

Way past it? He beat everyone except the champ basically.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Rob TKO. He struggles with absurd physical athletes like Yoel, Dricus, Khamzat. Reiner is a hooge MW but he isn't an absurd physical freak like those other 3. And he doesn't have the counter striking and distance of Izzy that nullified Rob's striking. He gets chewed up on the feet and struggles to get Rob down. Like yeah if he gets on top of Rob then he's in trouble but I don't see him getting Rob to those bad spots on the ground and stylistically on the feet this is Rob's easiest fight since Marvin at least Reinier is more of a finisher and throws different strikes but both are horrible defensively on the feet but Reinier doesn't have a cinderblock for a head like Marvin.

 

[AzorAhai1]

De Ridder hasn't fought anyone on the level that Rob has. Rob has fought the whose who of the division over the last 5/6 years. Meanwhile De Ridder's best win is Kevin Holland. Even Rob at 70% of his best, he should win this fight.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Sorry Rob, I love you, but I gotta back my boy Reinier here.
Submission victory in the 3rd

 

[Bork Neslar]

Bobby by submission (strikes).

 

[Pequeño Corey]

I picked against Bobby, but I have a feeling I'll regret it.

RDR by sub.

 

[TheNewGame]

Young hungry lion meets old lion, tale as old as time.

Whittaker is younger tho lol

But yeah Rob has had some wars against elite competition for a lot of years

 

[cws80us]

I have this feeling that Rob is maybe not washed but just a little past his prime. Going with De Ridder.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Going with Rudolph de Reiner de Ridder

 

[svmr_db]

Final bump! Poll about to close.

 

[burningspear]

RDR, Whittaker is washed.

 

[Siver!]

Whittaker by R4 TKO!

 

[ThaiSexPills]

Rob by TKO

 

[CobraCobretti]

RDR is taking over

 

[ThaiSexPills]

It was puzzling that RDR didn’t strike more, especially late. He was having success with it but instead chose to hold Robert against the cage. He had a lot more left in the tank and chose to hold on instead. I know he won but he took a huge risk there being inactive in a fight that was 2-2.