White Pitches Whittaker-Cannonier For Next Title Shot

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Outspoken middleweight contender Jack Hermansson recently told the combat sports media that former 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker is the only opponent who makes sense for his Octagon return later this year.

I guess Dana White didn’t get the Email.

The UFC president instead wants “The Reaper” to collide with power-punching middleweight contender Jared Cannonier, with the winner moving on to challenge the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa, who throw down in the UFC 253 main event.

“It’s so hard to call,” White told ESPN (via MMA Fighting) about the next middleweight title contender. “You got Cannonier in there. Do you do Cannonier-Whittaker? That’s a really good fight to find out who fights the winner of Adesanya and Costa.”

Whittaker is fresh off his unanimous decision win over middleweight bruiser Darren Till in the UFC on ESPN 14 main event last weekend in Abu Dhabi. And while “The Gorilla” would prove to be a challenging opponent for Hermansson, “The Joker” would rather face the loser of Adesanya vs. Costa.

Hermansson (21-5) is coming off a submission win over No. 7-ranked Kelvin Gastelum on “Fight Island” and has now won five of his last six. That said, last September’s knockout loss to Cannonier puts him behind “Killa Gorilla” in the 185-pound title chase.

Anyone disagree?