Robert Whittaker is one of the best UFC middleweights of all time. However, the fighter went through a difficult childhood to be the deadly and rough fighter he is today.
Needless to say, Robert Whittaker’s fans love him for the wars he had gone through inside the ring. But, apart from that, the Reaper has also caught fans’ eyes a dozen times for tapping his southern cross tattoo on his left chest. Every time the fighter walks inside the ring he taps his southern cross tattoo.
Since he is an Australian, it is obvious for fight fans to assume the tattoo represents his country of which he is really proud. However, Robert Whittaker once revealed that It’s not the only reason behind the tapping.
The reason behind Robert Whittaker tapping the southern cross tattoo
In the year 2000, Robert’s parents got separated and he, along with his brother Stevan, went with their father Jack Whittaker to the Sydney suburb of Menai. Hence, Rob was raised and educated by a single father.
For which, he respects and looks up to his dad. That’s the reason he taps at the chest to remind him that Robert is thinking of him.
So showing his respect towards him Robert once said: “When I was a kid I didn’t understand how tough that would have been…I was a little s***, to be honest…But looking back retrospectively I can see that my father sacrificed a lot, he did a lot of things I’m sure he didn’t want to do, and he always put us first.”
This may sound confusing. But, the link between Rob’s father and the tattoo is when Robert was 18 years old, Jack (his father) got him his first Tattoo (the southern cross tattoo).
“My father got me that tattoo when I was 18. And I always tap my chest to show that whether he’s in the crowd or in the stands or at home, it’s a way for him to know that I’m thinking of him. It’s my way to show him that I know he’s watching” Whittaker said to Fatherhood.
However, Whittaker doesn’t mind people assuming that he is proud of his country since he really is patriotic.
