WHILE some of the UFC’s biggest stars have made a name for themselves entertaining fans out of the cage as well as inside of it, Robert Whittaker wants his fists to do all the talking when he faces Yoel Romero for the interim middleweight title belt.

“I’m going to go in there with the mentality that I’m looking for a war,” Whittaker told foxsports.com.au from an unassuming jiu jitsu gym in southwest Sydney.

Fancy European sports cars parked out front? None in sight.

Expensive threads? Nope.

Trash talk? Not his style (and it won’t work).

“I’m one of the quiet dudes, you can’t tease a dude that doesn’t care,” Whittaker said.

“ ... The crowd now would know if I was putting it on [smack talk]. I am who I am, there’s no point trying to fake it now.

“I’ve already gotten here by just being me. So that’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to be me. And people will either appreciate that or they won’t.

“For me (this) is just another fight, just another name, just another day.”

It’s a hugely significant day though.

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Robert Whittaker battles Jacare Souza on UFC Fight Night in April. Source: AFP

THE CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY

In just over a week ‘The Reaper’ will be fighting to become Australia’s first ever UFC champion.

His modest, level-headed approach is nothing like what you’d expect from a UFC title contender on seven-fight winning streak however.

“It’s hard to think about [being the first Aussie UFC champ],” Whittaker said.

“Representing my country was the highest honour and the highest pinnacle of my career and I do that every time I get in the octagon, and to be a champion for the country, it’s just … too much. It’d be the new biggest thing I’ve done.”

Time to bring it home @ufc #ufc213 #july8 A post shared by Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) on May 23, 2017 at 5:39pm PDT

THE ROAD TO ROMERO

With Romero’s original UFC 213 opponent and current titleholder Michael Bisping out of action injured, the door opened for Whittaker to make history on July 8, just three months after his TKO victory over Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza. Straight after that April fight, Whittaker was right back in the gym in Smeaton Grange preparing for his next opponent.

He didn’t expect another fight so soon, but he got it, and a shot at the belt no less. The reward for an incredibly focused work ethic.

“I did the program and just got better. Then when the [Romero] fight was announced, I was ready,” Whittaker said.

“Bisping is the champ, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s injured and somebody’s got to keep his seat warm. I’m a great seat warmer.”

Robert Whittaker celebrates after defeating Jacare Souza. Source: AFP

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING

Though an interim title fight, the opportunity for the belt couldn’t come at a better time for Whittaker, 26, currently in career-best form.

“I am doing everything in my power to prepare for this fight,” Whittaker said.

“I’m looking strong. I’ve only gotten better every fight, every training camp, so I’m going into this fight at the best I’ve ever been.”

Should Whittaker (18-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) beat Romero (31-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC), it would be a temporary stop on the way to a showdown against Bisping, but he refuses to contemplate that scenario just yet.

His focus is placed squarely on his Cuban opponent for now.

“Bisping isn’t on my mind yet. I’ve got to get through Yoel Romero who is the best fighter in the middleweight division in the rankings.

“He’s an Olympic calibre wrestler but he’s tight all around. He’s got strong, powerful hands, he’s got knockout power, he’s a great grappler.

“This fight could go anywhere and the game plan is simple, I’m just going to go in there and do me. Throw my hands like I always do and see how he copes with it.

“He definitely looks at me and knows my hands are a strong point of mine. He’ll want to take me down, try to grind me out a bit, and bully me. But I think I’m going to surprise him.”

UFC 213 will be broadcast on Fox Sports on Sunday morning, July 9 AEST

THE LAS VEGAS MISSION

The New Zealand-born fighter has a 2-1 win-loss record in UFC bouts in Las Vegas, with his last successful visit to Sin City in April 2016 at UFC 197 and his lone loss there against American southpaw Stephen Thompson in 2014.

Back in Sydney, Whittaker lives around the corner from his gym, ensuring that his wife and two young children are never more than a few minutes away after each gruelling training session.

He admits fighting so far from home does make him “kind of uncomfortable”, with the long flight to the US the thing he hates most. But once Whittaker touches down in Nevada with his wife, coaches and support team 10 days before facing Romero, he’ll dive right into his regular fight week ritual and prepare for the task on fight night.

“By the time I start walking out to the cage, my mind is firing off at 150%,” Whittaker said.

“I’m just focusing on that moment in time. I’m reacting. My reflexes are so on point.

“I don’t need much more motivation than knowing the other guy is trying to bash me. If that’s not motivating enough to fight hard, I don’t know what would get you across that line.”

Sydney UFC fighter Rob Whittaker. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

WHAT TO EXPECT

Though a narrow underdog against Romero, UFC experts highly rate Whittaker’s stand up striking ability, take-down defence and superior fitness, and among the fans he’ll probably hold the crowd’s favour too due to Romero’s shady history. The Cuban copped a six-month suspension from USADA after testing positive for a growth hormone release stimulator following his victory against Souza in 2015.

He returned to the octagon late last year and brutally knocked out Chris Weidman, earning him a shot at Bisping. And though Whittaker has shown restraint in pre-fight verbal-sparring, Bisping has not minced words when discussing his thoughts about Romero.

“He’s a scumbag, he’s a cheat, and that’s that,” the Brit said on his Believe You Me podcast.

“I hope Whittaker beats the brains out of him.”

Whittaker is aiming for the same outcome of course, on his own terms.

“I’m going to do what I always do — fireworks,” he said.

“I get in there and I put on a show, I fight for the finish and this fight is no different.”