Freshly-minted UFC interim middleweight champion Robert Whittaker may have been raised across the Tasman but admits he proudly carries the weight of Australasia on his shoulders.
The 26-year-old was born at South Auckland's Middlemore hospital to his Maori mother before almost immediately being whisked to Sydney, where he spent his formative years.
Representing both nations is something Whittaker says he's always embraced and will continue to do so, confessing he'd happily line-up as the main attraction in a UFC event held in Aotearoa.
"It's an absolute honour because I have never hid the fact that I am repping both that I'm proud of my Australian and New Zealand heritage," he told Newshub.
"There's a lot of debate and a lot of people arguing over it but I've always said the same thing - I'm a half-caste and proud to be one.
"I feel as at home in New Zealand as I do in Australia so to headline a card there would be perfect. It would be like fighting in my backyard."
Still carrying a few scars of battle from his five-round duel with former Cuban Olympian Yoel Romero last weekend, it's clear the enormity of his achievement was yet to truly sink as tries to settle back into his "routine of normality".
Less apparent was the on-going knee injury which hampered his performance against Adonis-like Romero after it was aggravated in the bout's opening round by a kick, forcing Whittaker to adjust his gameplan to adapt to its limitations.
The adjustment was almost as seamless as his other-worldly takedown defense against his opponent of renowned wrestling pedigree, Whittaker switching his stance constantly in a fruitful attempt to distort Romero's distance while daring him to enter his own striking range.
The interim title effectively means 'The Reaper' is now the mandatory challenger for the middleweight division's crown, with a showdown against brash British veteran and current champion Michael Bisping to consolidate his championship next on the agenda.
However with both men carrying significant injuries - Whittaker dealt a mandatory six month stand-down period for his knee – that fight may have to wait until early 2018.
"I'm still in the middle of getting all my doctors reports and then getting scans and everything so a fight early next year for me would me would be good, not only for me but for Michael [Bisping] as well.
"I think it's time I let my body heal. No longer than I usually do but I just need to make sure I look after my body now so it looks after me later.
The man who fans have affectionately dubbed 'Bobby Knuckles' has drawn glowing plaudits from across the MMA landscape, and he'll likely enter that bout with Bisping as the clear-cut betting favourite.
Predictably, it's not a challenge Whittaker will be taking lightly, but it's difficult to imagine anything other than a positive outcome given the drastic improvement he's displayed on a fight-by-fight basis, not to mention his infectious self-belief.
"I think this is going to be the hardest fight I've had to date, and I'm going to prepare accordingly.
"It's something that will happen and is something that I have to do. It's not something that may happen, it's something that will happen.
"I'm going to go there at the top of my game, I'm going to be the best Rob Whittaker the world has ever seen when we touch gloves."
Newshub.
