Whittaker in good health after gruesome UFC 308 injury

Robert Whittaker has suffered no long-lasting repercussions from the gruesome mouth injury he suffered at UFC 308 in October.

Pictures of the Aussie fighter’s face went viral after his co-main event loss to Khamzat Chimaev, with several of his bottom teeth pushed back into his mouth following the face crank he submitted to in round one.

While the injury seemed dramatic, Whittaker explained that he has “always had bad bottom teeth” and Chimaev did him a favour by removing them.

“They’ve always been crap,” he said.

“I haven’t been able to bite down on like an apple since I was 19.

“The fear of hurting my bottom teeth, of them moving… They’ve always been bad.

“I should’ve dealt with them.

“They’re just gone. I don’t need them. My life is better without them.

“Fun fact though, when they took them out, they found a massive cyst in my jaw.

“Apparently, they think that might have been where the infections were coming from with the teeth.

“So, everything happens for a reason.”

Whittaker — who was a +185 underdog against Chimaev at UFC bookmakers — explained that losing the way he did was still frustrating.

“It’s upsetting,” he said.

“I don’t like losing like that, but it is what it is.

“My teeth just went straight in, and I couldn’t fight out of it.

“I could feel my teeth in the middle of my mouth. I was done.

“Hats off to Chimaev.

“Guy had a plan, went in there, executed it for whatever reason, got the W.”

While the Australian is back in the gym and feeling fine after having his teeth removed, he is not in a hurry to return to the octagon.

“I’m going to give a bit of time,” he said.

“I’m not going to rush into the next fight, because there are some things I want to address.

“I’m 34 in December.

“I still have, I feel like some tricks up my sleeve.

“I am building some new skills.

“I still have some goals that I want to hit.

“I’m probably looking to return in June. June-ish? End of May? I don’t know.”

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