Robert Whittaker

UFC champ set for Comm Games

Last week Whittaker, who was already the interim middleweight champion, was given the overall title after mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre vacated due to health reasons.

The New Zealand-born Australian, Australasia's first UFC champion, has been scheduled to headline UFC 221 against American Luke Rockhold in Perth in February, which comes just under two months before April's Commonwealth Games.

Whittaker has already qualified for the 97kg wrestling division at the Games following his win at the Australian wrestling trials last month.

Whittaker wins UFC title in thrilling fight

All three judges scored it 48-47 to Whittaker, who suffered a foot injury in the first round.

Whittaker dominated the last three rounds of the fight, pinning the Cuban to the floor in the final minute.

"I sustained an injury earlier in the camp and I thought it would be 100 percent by now," Whittaker said.

"A guy like Yoel Romero, he sees a weakness he'll capitalise on it every time he can.

"I'm surprised he didn't kick it more. It definitely impacted on my game.

"I was trying to establish a solid jab and it's hard when your leading leg is bummed."