Whittaker out of hospital, manager predicts summer return

UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has been released from a Melbourne hospital four days after undergoing emergency hernia surgery, his manager, Titus Day, told ESPN's Ariel Helwani.

Day said Whittaker won't be able to do more than walk for four-to-six weeks but added his client could return to the Octagon by the start of summer.

"I'd say he'll be able to fight next sometime between June and August depending on recovery," Day said. "Hopefully closer to June."

Whittaker was forced to withdraw hours before his UFC 234 title defense Saturday against Kelvin Gastelum due to a collapsed bowel and an internal hernia. UFC president Dana White said the champion's injury "could have been fatal" if he did fight.

With Whittaker out for at least four months, the UFC will have to find a way to keep top contenders Gastelum and Israel Adesanya happy.

Gastelum declared himself the division's champion after Whittaker pulled out, while Adesanya beat Anderson Silva in the UFC 234 main event in what was billed as a No. 1 contender matchup. He later called for the Australian to be stripped of his belt after his latest injury setback.