ufc298, Robert Whittaker emerged victorious in striking encounter against Paulo Costa.
In the co-main event of UFC 298 held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, former champion Robert Whittaker showcased an outstanding performance against Paulo Costa, except for a tense moment late in the first round.
The middleweight bout between Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) and Costa (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was highly anticipated, featuring two top-tier fighters known for their striking abilities. Whittaker secured victory with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 after three rounds of intense action.
Right from the start, both fighters displayed powerful kicks, with Whittaker targeting Costa’s legs while Costa aimed high. They exchanged left-hand jabs early on, setting a fast pace for the fight. Whittaker took control of the center of the octagon, utilizing his punches to dictate the action. He darted in and out with his strikes, forcing Costa to either counter or wait for openings between Whittaker’s attacks.
As the first round was coming to a close, Costa unleashed a spinning heel kick that landed squarely on Whittaker’s jaw, causing him to stagger and wobble. However, Whittaker managed to survive the round and move on to the second.
In the second round, Whittaker maintained his strategy from the first round, delivering hard shots to Costa, who remained composed despite taking significant hits. Costa responded with jabs while circling around, and blood started to trickle from Whittaker’s nose. An accidental poke to Whittaker’s eye by Costa briefly halted the action, but they resumed the fight swiftly.
Whittaker continued to target Costa’s legs with hard kicks, affecting Costa’s movement. As the second round progressed, Whittaker’s ability to counterpunch became more evident.
With only five minutes left in the fight, the intense pace persisted. Costa opted for leg kicks, while Whittaker focused on landing punches to the head. Costa urged Whittaker to engage in a brawl in the center of the cage, but Whittaker stuck to his game plan. Whittaker’s agile strikes landed effectively, while Costa attempted to unleash more powerful strikes. Whittaker’s persistent leg kicks further troubled Costa as the fight approached its conclusion.
This victory signifies Whittaker’s bounce back from a loss in his last fight against current champion Dricus Du Plessis. Following his defeat to Israel Adesanya in 2019, Whittaker has won five fights and lost two, showcasing his resilience and remaining competitive among the top fighters in the 185-pound division.
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