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Rob Whittaker cops fresh blow after UFC 234 heartbreak

UFC middleweight champion Rob Whittaker has been discharged from hospital in Melbourne, but the Aussie star will have to wait a little longer to commence his recovery.

In a tough break for the 28-year-old, doctors have ordered him to remain in Melbourne until they are satisfied he is healthy enough to return home to Sydney.

Whittaker underwent surgery for an intestinal hernia and “twisted and collapsed bowel” according to a release from the fighter’s team on Saturday.

The Sydneysider was due to defend his middleweight belt against Kelvin Gastelum in the main event of UFC 234.

Instead, he found himself in hospital.

Robert Whittaker of Australia weighs in. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Robert Whittaker of Australia weighs in. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

His team said that had Whittaker fought on Saturday, a blow to the stomach could have proven fatal.

Whittaker, who boasts a nine-fight winning streak, will spend the next four to six weeks recuperating once he is cleared to return home.

He is expected to only partake in light training after that.

His manager, Titus Day, said he would aim to return to the ring in the months to follow.

I’d say he’ll be able to fight next sometime between June and August depending on recovery,” Day told ESPN.

“Hopefully closer to June.”

Whittaker still has not officially defended his middleweight crown.

After pulling out of Saturday’s fight, his opponent declared himself to be the “true” champion, even showing up to a press conference with a UFC belt draped over his shoulder.

Gastelo was evasive when asked who exactly had given him the belt he carried.

“This is my belt,” Gastelum said.

“I earned this. I showed up, traveled thousands and thousands of miles from home, made the weight. In my world, the wrestling world, if the guy shows up and makes the weight, for some reason cancels the bout, the guy forfeits the match. I win. I am the champion.”

According to ESPN, the UFC have not discussed Whittaker’s future with him or his team at this stage.