Robert Whittaker has been released from a Melbourne hospital following emergency hernia surgery last weekend, his manager Titus Day told ESPN.
According to Day, Whittaker, the UFC middleweight champion, was discharged Tuesday, however, he is not allowed to fly back home to Sydney until Monday, per his doctors.
Whittaker was scheduled to defend the UFC middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 on Saturday night, but he was forced to withdraw from the fight just hours before the event after suffering from a collapsed bowel and an internal hernia. He is still in a considerable amount of pain, Day said. Whittaker was recently released from the hospital.
According to Day, Whittaker’s doctors said he can’t do much more than walk for four to six weeks. He can then start light training, if all goes well.
“I’d say he’ll be able to fight next sometime between June and August depending on recovery,” Day said. “Hopefully closer to June.”
The UFC has yet to discuss with Whittaker or his management what they plan on doing with the middleweight, Day added. Gastelum and Israel Adesanya, who beat Anderson Silva at UFC 234, have been campaigning to fight for the undisputed title later this year.