Is Whittaker past prime now?

[Harlekin]

It was not a normal jab and Rob was too late blocking it.
Dricus totally overcommited on it. Risky move, most often you get countered like hell.
Also DDP is heavy, so he has power even with not correct technique/speed

 

[Yellowcrab]

No, Dricus was simply better.

 

[Brutus.......]

He’s got a young family, had serious health issues with a daughter he donated bone marrow to.

He’s not going to be the savage he was before all that more important stuff happened. Hard to keep that same rage and hunger when your family is rightfully the centre of your existence.

 

[IneedSometop]

less than 1 year ago after the Vettori fight people were saying that's the best he's ever looked and he's coming to take the belt back...never change sherdog never change

 

[Theynevergoeasy]

He’s not past his prime. He just lost which means:
He always sucked
He got exposed for sucking
He’s always been a can
He should retire

 

[eddi]

Yes he's past prime and will never be the same, he's gonna be used to push new fighters now or gatekeep the top 5

 

[daniel san]

He's only 32 but he's been in many wars. I wouldn't expect him to be in his physical prime after getting knocked out by Izzy and being in wars with Romero. Still elite though, but he probable needs to fight a bit more safe in the future.

 

[Busgosu]

Well, it's MMA and he lost so pick one:
1) He's past his prime
2) He was never good

 

[Jstr]

Dricus and his team simply figured him out. Rob is a very good fighter but somewhat predictable.

 

[C0NCH3TO]

People just look at age and be like “ oh fuck, he’s just 30… so young”, without looking at how many fights and how much damage these guys have accumulated throughout their careers. Jose Aldo was only 27 years old but had 25+ fights when he lost to Conor, many great fighters in their mid 30’s have that same amount of fights. All props to Conor for that win but you can’t tell me that was the wec version of Aldo. 31 fights are a lot of fights for a man. Too many, perhaps. Izzy and Yoel softened that chin quite a bit, those were brutal fights for Robert.

Last but not least, and this might trigger a lot of people…. He was beating gatekeepers/journeymen after losing to Izzy. Cannonier, Till, Vettori and Gastelum are NOT elite.

 

[Credo]

More important, was he ever any good?

 

[HaulParris]

Whittaker would've knocked out DPP and there would've been a thread saying he's better than ever and MW GOAT contender.

He loses, he's out of his prime.

Gotta love these post fight threads after every event.

Yes, and don't forget:
- he was never that good
- he only beat cans
- he mostly won when he first started, and now since he lost, it must have something to do with USADA


(Obviously I'm being sarcastic, no fighter bashing)

 

[markantony20]

Nah man he was just never good(registered trademark)

 

[Kwic]

Many think being in your prime means you only win, and when you lose you're out of your prime. You can still get your ass kicked in your prime. I don't think Whittaker is in his prime but last night's results have nothing to do with that

People in their prime cannot be defeated. Once you lose you are out of your prime. If you lose your first MMA fight you never had a prime.
Also, you were never that good once you lose.

 

[JustBleed69]

Whittaker did look a bit chinny, however, I think the physicality of DDP was the main reason.
Whittaker made 170 several times in his career, not a chance in hell DDP is ever making 170.

 

[MidgardSerpent]

He's clearly past his peak, but I'd say his prime is still yet to be determined.

I don't see how you can be at your best with so many children to care for back home. He's a family man now, who's already climbed the mountain and became champ.

He's still elite but he's at the point where 95% don't really progress and either have a gradual or accelerated decline. His suspect chin and point based fighting style will likely not serve him well moving forward, you can only fight these 15-25min fights for so long until you get caught or the wear and tear catches up.

I remember when Yoel rocked him and Rob just toughed it out as he ate bomb after bomb, zero quit. You can't convince me that was the same dude from back then, Rob has overcome far more adversity in the past.

Every punch is different. You can get stopped by a weaker punch or by a fighter who generally is not considered a power puncher, because the circumstance of every punch when it's landing is never exactly the same. It doesn't have to mean you're chinny or shot. Robbie Lawler has had almost 50 fights, with 4 (t)ko stoppages, one was by injury, 2 were later in his career, but one stoppage was by Nick Diaz only landing a jab, but it was a perfectly timed jab.

 

[corrupted]

People CAN lose in their prime and it's possible DDP is better.

 

[corrupted]

Whittaker did look a bit chinny, however, I think the physicality of DDP was the main reason.
Whittaker made 170 several times in his career, not a chance in hell DDP is ever making 170.

I think it was DDP's strength and not so much a cracked seal

 

[Superzorro]

No one said Whittaker was past his prime when he lost to Wonderboy. So this idea that people only say it when a fighter loses is bullshit. Clearly age and wear n tear have something to do with it. Now me personally, I don’t think Whittakers potential decline had anything to do with this loss. Whittaker went down to strikes and gave up mentally before he actually lost consciousness. DuPlessis looked like he caught him with a very hard, painful shot in a fight where Whittaker’s spirit was already being broken by DDP’s relentless pace. Usually, people back off and give him room to breathe when he starts landing check hook and jab counters. But this time they didn’t and Whittaker was not used to that.

 

[chillyoo]

He didn’t look like the same crisp guy that has fought lately, he looked flat. I don’t know if he’s lost a step or it was a bad camp but I was pretty shocked at how he looked.

then he just kind of turtled and gave it up when we’ve seen him deal with a lot worst