Robert Whittaker provides replace on tooth and restoration from grotesque UFC 308 damage

Robert Whittaker is feeling proper as rain.

At UFC 308 in October, Whittaker suffered a horrible damage when Khamzat Chimaev dislocated his teeth with a face crank. The damage was among the many most grotesque of the 12 months and whereas followers could have anticipated an extended layoff for the previous middleweight champion, apparently he’s already doing a lot better.

Talking on his MMArcade podcast on Tuesday, Whittaker talked by way of the damage and defined that whereas Chimaev did pop them out, his tooth have truly been an issue for years earlier than this.

“I’ve at all times type of had unhealthy backside tooth,” Whittaker stated. “I’ve had lacking tooth for 10 years plus. So I’ve at all times been type of shot as a result of they’re not steady. They’re not a full circuit, they’re like half. Through the years, trauma no matter, I don’t know. It was one thing that wanted to be addressed by each dentist was at all times ‘Attempt to hold your actual tooth. Preserve your actual tooth.’ I ought to’ve removed them years in the past.

“However the Dricus [du Plessis] battle… they acquired pushed in just a little bit once I fought Dricus. I needed to deal with that, they needed to be pushed again, I had a forged in there, allow them to settle, yada yada yada, transfer on. Then once I fought Ikram [Aliskerov], I had all these infections. I needed to get 4 root canals. And I believe the tooth had simply had it. I believe that they had simply had sufficient. Sufficient is sufficient. [Laughs]. I don’t assume there was something holding the tooth there anymore.

“However anyway, his forearm goes straight throughout the underside tooth they usually transfer immediately. Then the squeeze after it, they have been gone. They only went straight again in. Everybody and their buddy noticed the pictures. …

“My tooth simply went straight in and I couldn’t battle out of it. I might really feel my tooth in the midst of my mouth. I used to be achieved. And hats off to Chimaev. Man had a plan, went in there, executed it for no matter cause, acquired the W.

“It’s upsetting. I don’t like dropping like that, however it’s what it’s.”

Whereas the damage actually seemed horrible — and Whittaker even joked about Daniel Cormier publicizing the picture — it wasn’t all unhealthy. Given his lengthy historical past of points with them, Whittaker says finally he was going to have his tooth eliminated anyway, and so in a bizarre method, there’s a silver lining to this loss.

“You already know what? I’ll go so far as to say, Chimaev did me a favor,” Whittaker stated. “He removed the tooth.

“The concern of injuring my backside tooth, of them transferring — they’ve at all times been crap. I haven’t been capable of chew down on like an apple since I used to be 19. They’ve at all times been unhealthy. I ought to’ve handled them.

“They’re simply gone. I don’t want them. My life is best with out them. Enjoyable truth although, after they took them out they discovered a large cyst in my jaw. Apparently they assume that may have been the place the infections have been coming from with the tooth. So all the things occurs for a cause.”

Whittaker added that he’s already again within the fitness center and feeling high-quality, nonetheless, he’s not in a rush to return to motion. The previous middleweight champion as an alternative stated he plans to get pleasure from a correct vacation along with his household earlier than focusing on a return across the summer season of 2025.

“I’m going to offer a little bit of time. I’m not going to hurry into the following battle, as a result of there are some issues I need to deal with,” Whittaker stated “… I’m in all probability trying to return in June. June-ish? Finish of Might? I don’t know. We’ll play with the dates subsequent 12 months. …”

“I’m 34 in December,’ Whittaker continued. “I nonetheless have, I really feel like some methods up my sleeve. I nonetheless have some objectives that I need to hit. Like I stated, I’m constructing some new expertise. However that’s simply how I take a look at issues. Each impediment and setback simply makes me stronger, it makes the comeback higher. I’m wanting ahead to getting again in there. I’m having fun with coaching. I’m excited for the following, what I could possibly be.”