Photos | Robert Whittaker appears to be in phenomenal shape for his fight with Paulo Costa at UFC 298

UFC star Robert Whittaker looks to be in incredible shape ahead of his showdown with Paulo Costa later this month.

At UFC 298, Robert Whittaker will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon. He’ll do so against Paulo Costa, in a contest that has been in the making for quite some time.

Heading into the fight, Whittaker knows that the pressure is on for him to perform. After going 12-2 at middleweight with his only two defeats coming to Israel Adesanya, ‘Bobby Knuckles’ took on Dricus du Plessis last summer. In a stunning result, du Plessis managed to finish Whittaker before going on to win the championship from Sean Strickland.

RELATED: Robert Whittaker confident he would dethrone Dricus Du Plessis in a rematch: “9 times out of 10 I beat him”

If Rob wants to get back to another title shot, he has to make a real impact against Paulo Costa. If you go off of this recent Instagram post, it appears as if he’s as ready as he’s ever been.

 

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A post shared by Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma)

The Whittaker effect

“I’m coming #UFC298”

It’s hard not to love Robert Whittaker. He has a great personality, he has an excellent fight style, and he certainly still seems to have gas in the tank at the age of 33. Alas, some fans will wonder whether or not he has what it takes to make another run for the gold. If he does, it goes without saying that he needs to put on a real show against Costa.

What do you believe will happen when Robert Whittaker takes on Paulo Costa at UFC 298? If he gets the win over the Brazilian, how far away do you think he is from a title shot? Let us know your thoughts on his future, BJPENN Nation!