​Robert Whittaker rejuvenated his career with a decisive victory at UFC 329. In his light heavyweight debut on Saturday, Whittaker, sporting a 27-9 MMA record with 18-7 in the UFC, finished Nikita Krylov, a consistently ranked contender, with a brutal punch for a stoppage at 1:01 of the third round. The clash occurred on the early prelims at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
At 35 years old, Whittaker stepped up from the middleweight division, which he once ruled, hoping to flip his fortunes after back-to-back losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder. He appeared to carry more weight for the move, yet Krylov remained noticeably larger, standing as the heavier fighter on the scale. Despite the size disadvantage, Whittaker demonstrated notable speed and timing, which helped him counter Krylov’s early grappling-focused game plan.
Krylov attempted to establish control with a grappling-heavy approach in the opening exchanges, but Whittaker began finding his rhythm with his striking, landing accurate and meaningful blows as the bout progressed. The turning point came with a powerful right hand delivered by Whittaker. Krylov absorbed the shot, but after the reset, his jaw appeared noticeably shaken, and he kept flexing his jaw in clear signs of distress. The impact left Krylov compromised, and he began retreating and signaling that he could no longer continue. The broadcast sparked speculation that Krylov might have suffered a broken jaw, a diagnosis that would align with his visible reaction to the punch.
Following the stoppage, Whittaker announced his intention to remain at light heavyweight, underscoring his commitment to competing in the higher weight class. For Krylov, the loss marked his third defeat in his last four bouts, a troubling stretch that has tempered his momentum in the division.
Result: Robert Whittaker def. Nikita Krylov via TKO (punches) in Round 3 at 1:01.
This recap reflects the key moments and outcomes of UFC 329’s bout featuring Whittaker and Krylov, highlighting Whittaker’s strategic switch to light heavyweight, the bout’s dynamics, and the implications for both fighters moving forward.