NZ-born UFC champion Robert Whittaker apologises after withdrawing from bout JUSTIN CHADWICKREY DEL RIO/GETTY IMAGES Robert Whittaker, left, punches Yoel Romero in their interim UFC middleweight championship bout in Las Vegas, in July. New Zealand-born UFC middleweight champion and headline act Robert Whittaker has apologised to his fans after being forced to withdraw from Perth's UFC blockbuster in February. Whittaker was scheduled to take on former champion Luke Rockhold in UFC 221 at Perth Arena on February 11. Yoel Romero will take Whittaker's place in what will now become an interim title bout against Rockhold. Whittaker became the first undisputed UFC champion from Australia when Canadian Georges St-Pierre vacated the middleweight title in December.

Source: Stuff January 13, 2018 14:26 UTC