The Australian was set to defend his UFC middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum in Melbourne on Saturday - but pulled out due to injury
ROBERT WHITTAKER was told he could have died if he had not had bowel surgery after pulling out at the last minute from UFC 234.
Whittaker was set to defend his UFC middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum in Melbourne on Saturday.
However, Whittaker was taken to hospital after complaining about a problem in his addinmal before being diagnosed with a collapsed bowel and internal hernia.
The UFC acted as they boosted the co-main event bout between Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya to the headliner - as Style Bender outpointed the UFC legend in Australia.
Bitterly disappointed in being forced out of the main-event in front of his home crowd, Whittaker addressed his fans on social media and revealed his "potentially fatal" injury.
Whittaker said: “Let me say that I’m sorry to all my friends and family and fans that came out to watch me perform. But unfortunately I couldn’t be there. I tried my best to try and swing it.
“I was fighting the doctors all the way up until they said, ‘You’ve gotta get surgery or you’re gonna lose part of your bowel.’ Or it could be potentially fatal. I had to look at my health first — I’m sorry, guys.
“You guys know what it takes to keep me from the octagon. So for you guys to be behind me and supporting me and sending me your love like that, it means a lot to me. It really does.
“And it makes it easier for me to try even harder next time, to get in there and to put my soul on bare and put on a good show for you guys.”
After UFC 234, Dana White revealed Whittaker had pleaded to fight on - but the severity of his injury was far too devastating.
It is not yet understood whether the UFC will re-book Whittaker vs Gastelum - as Adesanya now has a claim to be the No1 contender in the 185lb division after beating Silva.
Gastelum, though, claims he is rightfully the UFC middleweight champion and paraded around the arena with Henry Cejudo’s flyweight title.
The stunt was seen as a way of making sure Gastelum is not overlooked for the next crack at the title - while some accused the 27-year-old of just being delusional.
One person not impressed with the Amercian’s actions is former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor - who blasted “worm” Gastelum.
McGregor said: Why is that worm holding the 185lb belt? There are worms crawling on his skin!
“It was absolutely ludicrous to even consider allowing him to compete. Let alone now walk around the arena shaking our fans hands.
"Someone sort this, this instant. And sterilize that belt.
“Immediately.”
