Robert Whittaker: Daily Routine

He’s a former UFC champ with a spreadsheet for every rep, but burnout taught Robert Whittaker the most important routine of all — balance.

During preparations for UFC 243, when Robert Whittaker was looking to unify the UFC middleweight title against undefeated interim champion Israel Adesanya, the champion had one thing on his mind: smashing dumplings.

“I’m keen to try this hectic dumpling place in Melbourne,” he told Men’s Fitness. “To be honest, whether I win or lose, I’ll be there smashing dumplings”

Whittaker ultimately lost the bout when Adesanya knocked him out in the second round, but has recently bounced back with a hard-fought decision win over rising middleweight contender Darren Till.

Everything I do is for the success of my family. I’m not one of those people who’s driven by fame. Everything I need, I have. It’s now about me fighting to keep what I have and to make what I have better – that will make my family prosperous. It’s this that drives me.

The first Australian and first New Zealand-born fighter to hold a UFC title, approaches his daily training routine with a blue-collar, 9-to-5 mentality: clock in, get shit done, clock out, go relax, play video games and spend time with the family — Whittaker and his wife, Sofia, have three kids, John, Jack, and Lilliana.