UFC Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker won the championship when he defeated Yoel Romero at UFC 213.
Whittaker was offered the opportunity to be a coach on the UFC Ultimate Fighter opposite UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping, but it was an offer he turned down.
"They approached me right after my fight, but I hadn't seen my kids and family in weeks," Whittaker said to ESPN. "It's not as if I live two hours away. I live close to 24 hours away. For me to realistically look at that, you need to make it worth my while. I would have had to do all my rehab in the States. I would have had to bring my entire family to the States, take my kids out of school. The offer just wasn't enough. I countered with offers, not just financial figures, but a lot of conditions as well, and we just couldn't come to an agreement."
Shortly after the fighter turned down the coaching opportunity, the UFC Middleweight Champion would announce a bout with former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 217.
Even though Whittaker is going to have to wait longer for his title unification fight, the champ realized he had no leverage because the UFC is going to do whatever it wants.
"Yeah, the injury doesn't matter, to be honest. Michael's been bloody harping about that [St-Pierre] fight for how long? The UFC does what it wants. That's just how it is,” says Whittaker.
The interim middleweight champion is currently dealing with a knee injury, but he expects to return to action after an eight week rehabilitation.
