Whittaker outclasses Vettori for UD win at UFC Paris

Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker earned a unanimous decision victory over Marvin Vettori (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the co-main event of UFC's first-ever event in Paris, France on Saturday.

Whittaker and Vettori traded blows in a close opening round as they felt each other out. Whittaker landed the heavier shots while Vettori controlled the center of the Octagon.

But Whittaker turned it up in the second stanza, landing a handful of damaging blows that forced Vettori onto his back foot.

The 31-year-old continued to show he's a class above the Italian in the final round, keeping Vettori at range and bloodying him with pinpoint accuracy. Whittaker capped the round by shutting down a takedown attempt before earning one of his own.

"Including the champion (Israel Adesanya), I'm the most dangerous man in the division. I make people hate fighting," said Whittaker. "I take the love out of it for them."

Whittaker is gunning for a third shot at Adesanya, the middleweight king, after falling short in a close rematch in February. Adesanya knocked out Whittaker in October 2019 to earn the belt.

The New Zealand-born Australian has only lost to Adesanya in his last 15 fights and put together wins over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum between their two bouts.

Vettori, meanwhile, has now lost two of his last three fights. He suffered his second loss to Adesanya in June last year before bouncing back with a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa in October.