Nearly a year after his last appearance in the octagon, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is gearing up to defend his title in Chicago and is eyeing an ‘Aussie takeover’ of the Windy City.

Whittaker, 27, will headline the UFC 225 pay-per-view event against Cuban Yoel Romero, the same man he defeated in Las Vegas last July to claim the interim middleweight title – with up-and-coming heavyweight and ex-rugby league prop Tai Tuivasa already pencilled in to fight on the undercard.

Head to head: Robert Whittaker, right, faces off with Yoel Romero. Credit:AP

“Tai’s really real and he’s kind of doing his own thing. He gets in there and brings the fight and I love him for that. I’ve already spoken to him and we’ve already agreed that we’re going to take over Chicago – we’re looking forward to making some noise,” Whittaker said.

After sustaining a knee injury in his first fight against Romero, and then having to be withdrawn from the UFC 221 card in Perth due to illness ‘The Reaper’ is chomping at the bit to get back to action.