Robert Whittaker Released from Hospital Following Surgery, Hoping for June Return

Robert Whittaker was discharged from a Melbourne hospital on Tuesday following emergency hernia surgery, the fighter’s manager, Titus Day, told ESPN.com.

The middleweight champion was forced to withdraw from his title defense against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 on the day of the event after suffering a collapsed bowel and internal hernia. According to Day, Whittaker remains in a great deal of pain following the procedure.

Whittaker was told by doctors that he won’t be able to do much beyond walking for the first four to six weeks of his recovery. After that, he may be cleared to begin light training.

"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.”

That would seem to align with Gastelum’s timetable. Gastelum’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told ESPN that he was hoping to have the fight vs. Whittaker rebooked in June or July. Whittaker, who has won nine fights in a row, has not competed since defeating Yoel Romero in June 2018.