Whittaker vs Costa bout scrapped from UFC 284 card

In a big blow to Australian MMA fans, it has been announced that Robert Whittaker will not be fighting on the UFC 284 card in Perth. The much-loved star was slated to face Paulo Costa on February 12, but the bout has been scrapped due to contractual issues emanating from the Costa camp.

The Brazilian has a long history of being an acrimonious negotiator, and a vocal critic of current rates of UFC fighter pay, and terms could not be agreed for the matchup. Whittaker found the cancellation “very upsetting” and apologised to fans that have bought tickets for the event based on his expected appearance.

It looks highly unlikely a replacement will be found at this late stage, meaning Whittaker’s hard work and sacrifice leading up to the festive period will have been in vain. A return to the octagon has been pencilled in for March or April 2023, although no opponent has been named.

UFC 284 will be headlined by another Australian star in Alexander Volkanovski, who is attempting to become a two-division champion when he faces reigning lightweight king Islam Makhachev. The UFC caravan rarely travels Down Under, and the event is expected to sell out even without the star power of Whittaker.

Volkanovski has cleaned out his featherweight division and has been forced to move up a class in search of credible opponents. His international success can largely be attributed to the career of Whittaker, who was the first Australian to fight at the very highest levels of the sport.

UFC 284 will take place at RAC Arena in Perth, WA, on February 12. The card also features a fight for the interim featherweight title between Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett.

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