It's not that Robert Whittaker had never tasted defeat before, but it had been a while.
February 22, 2014, to be exact, before the New Zealand-born Australian set off on a nine-win tear over half a decade to become Australasia's first UFC champion.
But in the space of eight-and-a-half minutes in Melbourne earlier this month, his reign was over. Just like that, courtesy of a lethal left hook from Kiwi sensation Israel Adesanya, who unified the middleweight division in front of a UFC record crowd of more than 57,000.
Defeat helped Robert Whittaker put the setback into perspective.Credit:Getty Images
The result was a bitter pill to swallow for Whittaker, that virtually goes without saying. But having come to terms with the second-round knockout by escaping to a "completely different environment" at a video game convention, a different emotion set in that he also hadn't felt in some time.
As the 28-year-old plots his way back up the ranks for another tilt at the title, he knows it's exactly what he needs.
"Obviously I'm disappointed from losing the belt, I'd be broken if I wasn't," Whittaker said. "But one huge emotion was disappointment, the other was excitement.
"I was gutted, I really was, but it lit a fire in me. It lit an emotion that I haven't had in a long time, which was hunger. To be able to feel that, to feel the chase of climbing, it was really good. And I honestly can't wait to get back in there."
The defeat to Adesanya was the culmination of a difficult 12 months which, as challenging as it was to live through, helped Whittaker put the setback into perspective.
He was initially scheduled to defend the title against Kelvin Gastelum in February only to pull out on the day of the bout. After complaining of stomach pain, Whittaker was diagnosed with a collapsed bowel and internal hernia, which could have been fatal had he fought that day.
In August, Whittaker revealed he also suffered from depression in the months leading up to the Gastelum bout, admitting he lost motivation and drive as he struggled to return from an injury sustained in last year's victory over Yoel Romero.
‘It lit an emotion that I haven’t had in a long time, which was hunger.’Credit:Louise Kennerley
Whittaker has only recently felt comfortable discussing his mental health, but it's something he wants to continue to shed light on during his upcoming Up Close and Personal speaking tour across Australia and New Zealand.
"Depression is something I've only become aware of in the last year," he said. "It took a lot of work to get to where I am today, to be able to identify the way I am.
"It's something I definitely wish to highlight that it's something I've had my entire life and I only wish that people can identify it as early as I have."
That's just one part of his story Whittaker wants to share as he reflects on the personal challenges he's overcome to reach the top of his sport – and how he plans to bounce back in the next phase of his career.
Born in New Zealand to a Kiwi mother and Australian father who separated when he was young, Whittaker experienced his fair share of hardships growing up with little money in a western Sydney housing commission.
But while he found direction and, ultimately, his calling in mixed martial arts, after taking up karate at school, he hasn't forgot many of those he grew up with who were often overlooked because of where they came from or what they didn't have.
"There are a lot of guys that I thought were much more talented than me that could've done much better things but they didn't have the avenues. They were expected to be something they're not," said Whittaker, who is holding events in Auckland and Christchurch in December.
"I only hope to get out there to pass my story on so others can pick something up and relate a little bit, which I'm sure a couple of guys that I grew up with could have at the time, and realise that hardships and trials and tribulations affect everybody. Not only themselves and guys from poverty – it affects world champions – but you can still work with it."
Three weeks since the loss to Adesanya – his first as a middleweight – Whittaker has yet to bring himself to watch a replay.
It's something he's still working his way towards, which is not to say he hasn't been critical of his performance.
"I am honestly my biggest critic, I always am," he said.
Whittaker also knows it's easy to look back and say he could have done things differently, but he stands by his preparation and his gameplan.
"Revisionist history is a great thing. But I was feeling amazing at the time, I was feeling amazing in the octagon, I was feeling amazing in the weeks leading up. I was at my physical peak.
"It's one of those things where it just didn't go my way. That's the other side of the coin; you have to be prepared for that when you jump into the octagon."
His first step towards another title shot is likely to take place early next year as he eyes a return to the octagon in February or March.
The winner of next month's bout between Gastelum and Darren Till has been speculated as a possible opponent, but Whittaker is prepared to bide his time to see how the division plays out.
"I'm excited for what the future brings, excited for what's around the next corner," he said. "I'm young enough to jump back in and have another go."
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