Rob Whittaker släpper uttalande från sjukhuset: "Sorry to all friends, family and fans"

UFCs mellanviktsmästare Robert Whittaker var bara timmar ifrån att försvara sitt bälte ’på riktigt’ för första gången under UFC 234. Han skulle ha ställts mot Kelvin Gastelum men ett bråck fick honom att ställa in matchen. Nu släpper han ett uttalande från sin sjukhussäng och lovar sin familj, vänner och supporters att han kommer komma tillbaka bättre än någonsin. Nedan kan ni höra hur det lät.

Let me say that I’m sorry to all my friends and family and fans that came out to watch me perform. But unfortunately I couldn’t be there. I tried my best to try and swing it. I was fighting the doctors all the way up until they said, ‘You’ve gotta get surgery or you’re gonna lose part of your bowel.’ Or it could be potentially fatal. I had to look at my health first — I’m sorry, guys.

You guys know what it takes to keep me from the Octagon. So for you guys to be behind me and supporting me and sending me your love like that, it means a lot to me. It really does. And it makes it easier for me to try even harder next time, to get in there and to put my soul on bare and put on a good show for you guys.

I’ll be back better than ever. This is one obstacle that I’ve jumped. It’s not gonna keep me down forever. I’m gonna be back — better than ever.

Visa det här inlägget på Instagram

Hey guys ! Still kicking. I’m sorry to all my friends, fans and family for not being able to get in there Sunday. Apparently if you get emergency surgeries you can’t be cleared to fight. Thanks for the overwhelming support from all my fans I am so blessed to know you guys have my back. A big thanks to my team mates @fabricioitte @alexprates07 @standstrongboxingcoachjustin @justinlang_ep @titusday77 and all the others from behind the scenes you guys were there from start to finish worrying and prioritizing my health above all. Lastly to @danawhite and @ufc for the immediate help and support throughout the process of testing and the emergency surgeries. I am blessed I found out when I did and avoided life long consequences. I’ll be back better than ever.

Ett inlägg delat av Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) 10 Feb 2019 kl. 7:01 PST