​Packed with nine prelims, the UFC 329 undercard carries its own peppering of intrigue. Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has already proven he can navigate a dramatic jump up in weight, so it’s natural to see him test the waters again at light heavyweight, where he meets Nikita Krylov in the featured slot. Immediately under that, former Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson makes his UFC debut. He’s stepping into a difficult arena with a fairly raw profile, yet his arrival injects fresh blood into the heavyweight ranks and offers a tantalizing glimpse of potential.
Beyond these headliners, the card presents a well-rounded mix of competitive matchups that should deliver solid action, even if the stakes aren’t crystal-clear in the short term. Adrian Yanez is poised to be a highlight-reel candidate in his pairing with former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, which promises an entertaining test for both men. On the flyweight front, a bout between Tracy Cortez and Cong Wang could propel the winner into the conversation for a significant fight after a strong performance.
Light Heavyweights
Odds: Whittaker -148, Krylov +124
Whittaker’s successful move up to light heavyweight is part of what makes this booking so compelling. The Australian “Reaper” has a storied track record that dates back to his early UFC career, where he began as a relatively nondescript welterweight. He pivoted to 185 pounds in 2014, a transition that immediately elevated his game: his boxing sharpness and speed gave him a new level of threat, and his cardio endurance allowed him to overwhelm opponents, often culminating in knockout finishes. As the years rolled on, Whittaker emerged as one of the division’s standout stars in the Oceania region, and a 2017 victory over Ronaldo Souza showcased not only his striking but his ability to implement a high-level wrestling game, highlighting a versatility that left many analysts confident he had few real weaknesses at the elite level.
Whittaker’s ascent to the pinnacle of the 185-pound division felt inevitable, yet circumstances conspired to keep him from a full, crowning moment. He captured an interim title by defeating Yoel Romero, but the unification bout never materialized in his favor. The sport’s landscape shifted when Georges St-Pierre returned to beat champion Michael Bisping and eventually retired, thereby denying Whittaker a shot at an undisputed crown at the right moment. Complications continued to plague his career on fight night as well: bouts scheduled in Australia against Luke Rockhold and Kelvin Gastelum were derailed by injuries, including a career-threatening hernia that surfaced just hours before the planned Gastelum clash. By the time Whittaker finally earned a title defense on home soil, he faced Israel Adesanya, a challenger who had separated himself from the pack and, in many eyes, captured the attention of fans and media alike as the defining figure of the era.
Whittaker’s trajectory remains a compelling chapter in contemporary MMA—an elite fighter who has battled through misfortune and injury while continuing to push the boundaries of his skill set. His decision to test light heavyweight once more reflects a fighter’s mindset: explore the possibilities, assess the risk, and trust that the peak performance can still emerge from a calculated leap into a new weight class. For Krylov, the opportunity to meet a former champion on such a stage offers a meaningful chance to derail a high-profile name and to showcase the combat versatility that has allowed him to remain a consistent threat at 205 pounds.
The rest of the card is built to reward fans who crave competitive exchanges and the potential for breakout performances. If Whittaker can impose his pace and power, and if Krylov can counter with his own multi-faceted approach, this bout could swing in either direction and provide a telling read on both fighters’ trajectories in the post-orbit of legacy fights.