“I didn’t really like (being champion) that much,” he said renowned MMA reporter Ariel Helwani. “It comes with some pros but the cons really started distracting me. There was a lot of media and a lot of expectations and a lot of self-imposed pressure. It didn’t agree with me super well. I like the fight, I like the challenge, I like the next opponent, I like just trying to work out how I’m going to beat you and I love being the underdog.”

Whittaker, still only 29 years old, would like to get back on winning ways against Darren Till. The winner of the fight might as well be the next one in line for the title after champ Adesanya takes on current challenger Paulo Costa.