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Robert Whittaker is your new UFC interim middleweight champion.
The 26-year-old New Zealand native completed one of the sport’s great underdog runs on Saturday, battling back from early adversity to defeat Yoel Romero via unanimous decision and capture gold at UFC 213. Whittaker, now 7-0 as a middleweight in the UFC, suffered a knee injury in the opening round but persevered, setting up a potential showdown between he and sidelined UFC champion Michael Bisping.
Check out reaction to Whittaker’s title-winning performance below, plus much more from a busy night in Las Vegas.
ROBERT WHITTAKER DEF. YOEL ROMERO
THAT FIGHT!!!!!!! @ufc
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) July 9, 2017
Gotta give it to @robwhittakermma hell of a fight!
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) July 9, 2017
@robwhittakermma is the new ufc interim champion!!!@ufc
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 9, 2017
Amazing amazing amazing
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 9, 2017
Bobby F****ing Knuckles!!!! What a beast! Won the last 3 rounds on one leg. What a fight!!! UFC213
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) July 9, 2017
Shit was crazy. I guess Whittaker is the scariest man alive #ufc213
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) July 9, 2017
FUCKING YESSSS @robwhittakermma AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE #ufc213
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) July 9, 2017
— sheldon westcott (@sheldonwestcott) July 9, 2017
Never underestimate this @robwhittakermma #AndNew #UFC213
— Francis NGannou (@francis_ngannou) July 9, 2017
Congratulations to the new interim @ufc champ, @robwhittakermma!!
— Ryan Hall (@ryanhall5050) July 9, 2017
Hell yes @robwhittakermma congratulations bro!!!!! #champ
— Court McGee (@Court_McGee) July 9, 2017
He got that... @bisping vs @robwhittakermma for Sydney #ufc213
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) July 9, 2017
Whittaker corner just tried to lynch him with his reebok shirt. other than than flawless performance by him and his team #UFC213
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 9, 2017
I told you mofos a long time ago t stop sleeping on that kid. Congrats @robwhittakermma you've earned everything you have! #UFC213
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 9, 2017
Gotta love Bisping! "Take that mothafooker!" #UFC213
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 9, 2017
One more for the good guys....We coming!!! Bad boys bad boys what ya gonna do
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) July 9, 2017
I like @robwhittakermma humble and bad ass. Congrats! @ufc #ufc213
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) July 9, 2017
Congrats to @robwhittakermma That was awesome to watch! Very proud of ya. #UFC213 #champion
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) July 9, 2017
What a war!! Congrats to @robwhittakermma great performance and lots of heart. #humblechamp
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) July 9, 2017
@robwhittakermma incredible performance. Congratulations.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 9, 2017
Awesome fight @robwhittakermma and great show of class in the post fight. @ufc
— Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) July 9, 2017
Congrats to the new UFC champ @robwhittakermma amazing performance https://t.co/O6VzhvU0ht
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) July 9, 2017
I don't think @UFC knows how big @bisping vs @robwhittakermma will be in Brisbane @UFC_AUSNZ I hear there's a girl down under fo fight me?
— #UFC214 CyborgNation (@criscyborg) July 9, 2017
ALISTAIR OVEREEM DEF. FABRICIO WERDUM
That fight was getting ugly for Reem too. He made it out with the "W". #UFC213
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 9, 2017
It was close but overeem pulled off the decision. #ufc213
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) July 9, 2017
So no one is going to talk about the robbery we've just witnessed!? @FabricioWerdum got screwed bad by The #NSAC #UFC
— Vinny Magalhães (@VinnyMMA) July 9, 2017
Holy shit, no way....!! @Alistairovereem beats @FabricioWerdum ....respect but I'm a little (lot) conflicted on this decision @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) July 9, 2017
Disgusting decision! NSAC you suck!!!!!! #ufc213
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) July 9, 2017
I wonder if these are the same judges from #Australia that robbed @mannypacquiao & I of our fights!?!? #UFC213
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 9, 2017
Really??? That's a crazy decision. #ufc2013
— rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) July 9, 2017
Judges you are bad for the sport #ufc213
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) July 9, 2017
We need to have these judges tested! Us athletes should run them through seminars so we can keep them in check #ufc213 #bogusjudges
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 9, 2017
You can barely hear Overeem over the boos.
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) July 9, 2017
No way!! @FabricioWerdum won by far! #UFC213
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 9, 2017
#Judges won that fight... #ufc213
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) July 9, 2017
That's what you call a fight full of stats.
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 9, 2017
CURTIS BLAYDES DEF. DANIEL OMIELANCZUK
Is it just me or is it a little weird when a guy named Curtis "Razor" Blades has to cut his fingernails cage side? #UFC213
— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) July 9, 2017
pleaaaaaaaase #UFC213 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz pic.twitter.com/4bps6p7EMT
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) July 9, 2017
I saw a peepee kick there..
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) July 9, 2017
Gotta love @marcgoddard_uk wish he'd be the 3rd man in every one of my fights. Awesome ref work! #UFC213
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 9, 2017
This is the most annoying referee in the word #UFC213
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) July 9, 2017
I'm guessing that #LasVegas heat is what's gassing these heavyweights lungs hard AF #ufc213
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 9, 2017
ANTHONY PETTIS DEF. JIM MILLER
Back in the win column! #UFC213#Pettis
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 9, 2017
Good to see Showtime back
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 9, 2017
Congrats @Showtimepettis #UFC213 #WECBoyz
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 9, 2017
Hell yeah @Showtimepettis ud all day!
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) July 9, 2017
Looking good @Showtimepettis !!! #ufc213
— Jessica Penne (@JessicaPenne) July 9, 2017
YASSSS!!! #PettisVsMiller #UFC213
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 9, 2017
Great fight from @Showtimepettis tonight!!
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) July 9, 2017
Yo @UFC let me get @Showtimepettis next!! @seanshelby @danawhite
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) July 9, 2017
We back on! Respect to @JimMiller_155 #teampettis #ufc213 pic.twitter.com/7GgnpiNpDf
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) July 9, 2017
Thank you brother. It was an honor to share the Octagon with you. https://t.co/wpg6eugaJn
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) July 9, 2017
ALEXEI OLEINIK DEF. TRAVIS BROWNE
Nice!!!!! Oleinik FTW!!! That dude is awesome. Sick sub #UFC #UFC213
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) July 9, 2017
Travis never fought the hands man. What the hell. Good job by olenik
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 9, 2017
I swear I hate the internet lol https://t.co/085DpQa6HT
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 9, 2017
Well we all lost after that one #ufc213 #heavyweight?
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) July 9, 2017
Great win @oleynikufc #attnation
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) July 9, 2017
Travis' footwork reminds me of a newborn colt pic.twitter.com/1TmITsVpqt
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) July 9, 2017
Brown is Charmin soft. #UFC215
— Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) July 9, 2017
Travis has no heart just quit ;( #ufc213
— GILBERT BURNS (@GilbertDurinho) July 9, 2017
Travis Browne looking like a shadow of his former self.... Nice win for Oleinik #UFC213
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) July 9, 2017
This is such a crazy rollercoaster of a sport. One year ur on top of the world, then next u might be walking to the chopping block..#UFC213
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 9, 2017
#ufc213 @travisbrowneMMA pic.twitter.com/ZuwwjOhWG6
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) July 9, 2017
It's ok Ronda
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) July 9, 2017
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