​LAS VEGAS — Nikita Krylov has faced a veritable who’s who of light heavyweight talent across his career, and Saturday’s matchup promises to continue that pattern. The 34-year-old Ukrainian has squared off with seven fighters in the UFC who have either held the light heavyweight title or challenged for the 205-pound crown. At UFC 329, set for Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, he will meet his eighth such foe.
Krylov (31-11 MMA, 12-9 UFC) will close the prelims against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC), who is stepping up to light heavyweight for this bout. For Krylov, it’s a clash that has been a long time coming in more ways than one. He noted that the path to this fight has taken a winding route, with multiple halted negotiations and scheduling shifts since his January knockout of Modestas Bukauskas.
“This is probably the third date and the second opponent we’ve had since my last win in January,” Krylov said during Wednesday’s UFC 329 media day for Paramount+. “We weren’t able to lock in a fight in Canada that fell through. Then there was a date with Robert already set for Australia that didn’t materialize because he wasn’t ready for that fight, and now we have this fight here.”
He added with a touch of admiration, “To be honest, I’m very happy about Robert standing in front of me because he’s one of my favorite fighters, and it’s a huge honor to share the cage with someone as legendary as Robert Whittaker.”
Krylov has gone 3-5 in his eight bouts against the former champions and title challengers he’s encountered so far (he is 1-1 against Ovince St. Preux). Yet a victory over Whittaker would represent the most significant win of his career to date. Krylov believes he can tilt the odds in his favor by neutralizing Whittaker’s speed and striking prowess.
“If you look at his career, it’s legendary, and I’ve been in my share of wars in the octagon as well,” Krylov noted. “What people are talking about most is his speed. He was a fast striker in the middleweight division, and there’s talk that that speed will transfer to light heavyweight. So, beyond everything else he brings into the cage, I have to be mindful of how quick his attacks are and how fast he can move.”
Krylov’s philosophy heading into UFC 329 centers on pacing, timing, and exploiting any openings Whittaker presents. He acknowledges the challenge but remains focused on controlling the fight on his terms, using his own experience and diverse skill set to navigate the dynamic striking speed that Whittaker is expected to bring into the octagon at light heavyweight.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie.