​Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker says he’s done with the 185-pound division for good and has no plans to return to middleweight. Whittaker is set to return to the Octagon for the first time since a split decision loss to Reinier de Ridder last July when he steps in to face Nikita Krylov at UFC 329 in what will be his light heavyweight debut.
Whittaker began his UFC tenure as a welterweight and prospered most during his middleweight years, making the move up to light heavyweight at age 35 a noteworthy turn in his career. He speaks with confidence that this change could extend his time in mixed martial arts by removing the brutal weight cuts that defined much of his previous training camps.
Addressing reporters ahead of UFC 329, where he will fight Krylov, Whittaker confirmed that the middleweight chapter is closed for good. “The middleweight Rob Whittaker chapter has closed. I’m very happy as a light heavyweight. It is honestly life-changing. I recommend it to anybody. I still do have to cut weight, it’s just not as brutal. It’s not as bad. I was able to fuel myself much more during the camp. Recovery was much higher. My moods were better. Everything was just better for it,” he told MMAFighting.com.
Whittaker underscored that, regardless of the outcome against Krylov, he’s finished with middleweight. He pointed out that other former 185-pounders have joined him at 205, mentioning fighters like Khamzat Chimaev, Reinier de Ridder, and Paulo Costa, all now competing at light heavyweight, and noting that he has already shared the ring with some of them.
Beyond the statistical changes, Whittaker opened up about the mental and emotional reasoning behind his late-career weight-class shift. He described a stretch of recent camps and fights that left him dissatisfied and transparent about the need for change to continue competing at a high level. He relocated part of his training to City Kickboxing to better suit his body and carried his support team with him to fight night, calling the experience life-changing. He added that he was able to approach the camp with less drain, better fueling, and improved recovery, which contributed to a markedly more positive mindset about the journey.
Typically, the period before a fight is marked by heavy dieting, water loading, and a longing to return home, Whittaker admitted. He said his focus and temperament were being stretched thin by the demands of preparing for battles at a weight class that had long taxed him, and the move to light heavyweight has allowed him to regain a stable sense of purpose and balance as he trains and competes.
Whittaker vs. Krylov will headline the UFC 329 preliminary card, preceding the main card. As fans and analysts weigh the implications of this class transition, Whittaker’s decision stands as a defining moment in his career—one that he believes could extend his time inside the cage by preserving his health, happiness, and longevity.