UFC middleweight Rob Whittaker will represent Australia in wrestling at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the New Zealand-born, Sydney-raised 27-year-old qualified for the team last year but confirmation of his addition was delayed after a number of other athletes appealed their omissions, which have since been dismissed.
UFC president Dana White is reportedly aware of Whittaker's decision.
His coaching team see the competition as ideal preparation for his rematch and title defence against Cuban Yoel Romero, who he beat via unanimous decision back in July to claim the interim title.
He was sidelined with a medial knee injury for the rest of 2017, before being forced to withdraw from his headline bout against Luke Rockhold in Perth due to a staph infection.
No stranger to the wrestling mat, Whittaker won gold in Australia's national championships early last year prior to taking out 97kg category at the Commonwealth Games qualifying tournament in November.
Newshub.