UFC 298: MMA Pundit Speaks on Whittaker’s Bout With Costa, Chances of Facing Du Plessis This Year

• Robert Whittaker will return to action against Paulo Costa in the UFC 298 co-main event this weekend
• The ex-UFC middleweight champion is under pressure to win after losing two out of his last three bouts
• Popular MMA pundit spoke on the chances of having a bout between Whittaker and Du Plessis this year

Nigerian MMA pundit Afolabi Ojabowale has shared his views on the UFC middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa at the Honda Center in California on Saturday.

Whittaker has lost two out of his last three fights and hopes to redeem himself against Costa.

In an exclusive chat with Sports Brief, Ojabowale thinks that Whittaker is under immense pressure to get a win against Costa due to his consecutive losses.

"Robert Whittaker, the former Middleweight champion, faces pressure after losing two of his last three fights. Previously, he defeated tough opponents like Derek Brunson, Yoel Romero, Jared Canonnier, Darren Till, and Marvin Vettori, with his only loss at the time being to Israel Adesanya. But consecutive losses bring added pressure," he said.

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"In preparation for his upcoming fight against Costa, Whittaker has talked about changing his mindset and becoming even hungrier. This shows his commitment to overcoming challenges and regaining his momentum in the division.

"I'd say he can bounce back against Costa because this is a very good stylistic match-up for him. His calm fighting style, marked by well-timed strikes that build up over time, matches up well against Costa's aggressive approach. This cost him badly against Du Plessis, and I won't be surprised if Costa tries to do the same thing. The difference is that Costa isn't as defensively sound as Du Plessis and will make mistakes that Whittaker will capitalize on.

"Considering these factors, Whittaker has a good chance of winning by decision. His resilience and strategic skills position him well to bounce back and secure an important victory over Costa in what promises to be an exciting fight."

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Speaking of chances of Dricus Du Plessis and Whittaker facing each other later this year, Ojabowale claimed that the possibility is low but disclosed one thing that can change it.

"The chances are low. Unless something drastic happens, the next contenders for the Middleweight belt are Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev. But a statement win over Costa this weekend can change all that," he added.

Volkanovski vs Topuria: Ojabowale picks favourite

Sports Brief earlier reported on Ojabowale disclosing the favourite to win the UFC featherweight title showdown between reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.

The featherweight title bout will be UFC 298 main event, with other fights happening on the night.