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Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa is officially on the docket for UFC 284 in Australia and our friends at SportsBetting.ag did not waste any time posting odds.
"Bobby Knuckles" is positioned as a -225 favorite and Costa a +190 underdog.
All of the early action has come in on the chalk. Here are the current fight odds:
Paulo Costa +224
Robert Whittaker -264
Whittaker this week referred to Costa “as dangerous as anyone I’ve fought”.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Whittaker explained why he opted for this fight.
“I’m stoked about this fight,” Whittaker said.
“Obviously one of my options was to wait and see who the winner was between Adesanya and Pereira.
“But I don’t want to do that. I don’t like to wait.
“I’ve had two fights this year and I wanted three.
“Plus, I’ve beaten just about everyone else in the division.
“So while I’m not looking past this guy – he’s put a lot of people away – once I beat him it assures me a title shot.
“And once I get that title fight the future will be decided from there.”
Peter Kloczko, UFC Vice President of Australia and New Zealand, explained the signficance of this fight.
"Whittaker versus Costa is an absolute barn burner and a fantastic first addition to UFC 284," said Kloczko. "Currently the number one contender at middleweight, Whittaker was Australia's first ever UFC champion and remains one of the biggest PPV draws in Australia."
He added: "We are thrilled to have him compete on home soil and against such an exciting opponent. [It's] a match-up with 'Fight of the Night' potential and will be hugely anticipated by our fans."
UFC 284 is set to take place in Perth, Australia on Feb. 12, 2023. The full card has yet to be finalised.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
