Rising UFC middleweight contender Ciao Borralho doesn’t see Robert Whittaker sticking around much longer in the sport.
The undefeated Brazilian has a lot of respect for the former champ, but he thinks Whittaker’s body language and recent performances are signalling a slow walk toward retirement.
Whittaker, one of the most decorated middleweights of his era, has seen better days. He recently dropped a close split decision to Reinier de Ridder in the UFC main event in Abu Dhabi. That loss followed a previous defeat to Khamzat Chimaev and marked the first time Whittaker has lost two straight fights at 185 pounds. Once the division’s most consistent force, Whittaker is now unranked in the top five.
Despite scoring a knockdown in Round 3 against De Ridder, the former champion looked far from the sharp, confident version fans were used to. And for Ciao Borralho, that says a lot.
“I don’t think so,” Borralho told The Schmo when asked about Whittaker’s chances of returning to the top five. “Robert Whittaker is a f*cking legend. I’m a big fan of him and all that he’s done in the sport. (He’s) one of the GOATs in the middleweight division. But right now, I feel that it seems like he doesn’t want to be there anymore.”
Borralho didn’t just question Whittaker’s mindset, he pointed to the former champ’s demeanour as an indication that his fire may be fading.
“His face says that. His body expressions say that. I don’t think he wants to go there and do, like, a five-round war again. I don’t believe that. With all due respect to him, I’m a big fan, but right now, it’s just not his moment anymore. I think he’s very close to retire or something like that.”
Whittaker has nothing left to prove as he’s faced the best, held the belt, and remained a consistent threat in one of the UFC’s most dangerous divisions. However, as the younger wave of contenders continues to rise, fighters like Borralho are making their presence felt.
Ciao Borralho remains undefeated in the promotion and carries momentum heading into his UFC Fight Night main event against Nassourdine Imavov on September 6 in Paris, France. A win there could position him for a title shot, and his comments on Whittaker only highlight how quickly the tides change in MMA.
With new blood on the rise and legends nearing the end, Borralho’s take serves as both a nod of respect and a reminder that the game waits for no one.
