Rising Australian Middleweight Robert Whittaker and number 13 ranked Brazilian Rafael Natal are up next in a bout that promises to be a striker versus grappler affair. Although one could have expected the Brazilian to drag the fight into deep water, he instead opts to stand and trade with Whittaker throughout round 1.
Following a lengthy feeling-out process, Whittaker catches Natal with a couple of good shots towards the end of the first round that rocks the Brazilian and possibly edges the first round for him on the judges’ scorecards.
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Rafael Natal, however comes out swinging in the second round and chews up Whittaker’s lead leg with a barrage of vicious outside leg kicks, which have the Aussie visibly hurt and slightly reluctant to continue walking down the Brazilian.
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The durable Whittaker, however, keeps stalking Natal and lands a few punches and a glancing head kick that looked like it could have cleaned his clock had it connected cleaner. After hurting Whittaker with the leg kicks at the beginning of the round, Natal surprisingly abandons the tactic as he opts to get into a fist fight with Whittaker. The second round seems closer than the first, though possibly edged by Whittaker on account of centre control.
Natal returns to his tactic of targeting Whittaker’s lead leg in the third and final round, but the persistent Aussie continues walking him down regardless of how effective those kicks appear to be.
Both men engage in wild flurries, with defence not taking priority with either fighter. Whittaker again lands the cleaner shots with the hands, although Natal does make his fair share of contact.
Whittaker then catches Natal towards the end of the round with a head kick that clearly buckles the Brazilian, although too late to allow him to pursue the finish in what has been an eventful and entertaining fight.
Result: Robert Whittaker by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
