While it hasn’t been long since Robert Whittaker first defeated Yoel Romero at UFC 213, it seems like forever ago. A lot has went down, but the more things change, the more they stay the same. Whittaker still holds the UFC middleweight title and has been waiting to see the rightful challenger rise to meet him after his injury. It just happens to be Romero, who is expected to be just as if not more dangerous at UFC 225 than their last encounter.

“[Yoel] Romero is a hard fight. It was a war the first time. It’s definitely up there as one of my hardest fights to date, one of the hardest fights mentally due to getting injured in the first round and having to get through it all. He’s such a tough competitor, he’s such a good athlete and such a good fighter.”

If fighting @YoelRomeroMMA doesn’t sound terrifying enough, listen to @robwhittakermma tell you what it’s like to hit him and have nothing happen. (Full interview here https://t.co/NoV8HcSJ2M) #UFC221 pic.twitter.com/Tz3LOisHEE

— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) February 15, 2018

“I’m under no illusion. I think this fight is going to be an an absolute nightmare so I’m going to make sure I’m training my absolute hardest and be the best Robert Whittaker to date. Everything happens for a reason, I believe. The week of the fight [with Luke Rockhold], my little daughter was born. I was home for that but if I was fighting I would have had to have been there and would have missed that.” — Robert Whittaker speaking to AAP.

Robert Whittaker was watching when Yoel Romero finished Luke Rockhold in startling fashion. He later analyzed it like some sort of fight wizard that may make you believe he’s got a future as a fight analyst. UFC 225 will go down in June and Whittaker will attempt to take his knowledge and experience into the scrap in hopes he can beat the terrifying former Olympian back-to-back.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/20/2018.