Robert Whittaker recently moved to light heavyweight and is not looking back.
The former UFC middleweight champion, who once competed as low as welterweight, will make his 205-pound debut opposite veteran bruiser Nikita Krylov as part of the UFC 329 preliminary card on Paramount+ this Sat. night (July 11, 2026) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sounds like “The Reaper” has never been happier.
“The middleweight Rob Whittaker chapter has closed,” Whittaker told reporters at the UFC 329 media
day. “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. I didn’t enjoy the last couple of camps and the last couple of fights and things had to change otherwise I wasn’t going to continue. I brought my entire tribe with me to the fight itself and it really is life-changing for me. I’m enjoying the journey.”
Whittaker, 35, is coming off back-to-back losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder, just the second time in his 17-year career that he’s dropped consecutive contests. But the 26-9 “Reaper” also recognizes that a new weight class brings new challenges — some of them dangerous.
Krylov (31-11) is fresh off a knockout win over Modestas Bukauskas back in January.
“You see, power is the ultimate equalizer, and I understand that,” Whittaker added. “I understand that you don’t … It doesn’t matter how technical you are; if you get hit hard by a heavy dude, it’s going to hurt. So, I understand the risk and the threat. That is the danger of moving up to light heavyweight. But I believe my skill set is champion level. The speed that I have, the physicality that I have, are at a champion level, and I am going to bring them.”
To see who else is fighting at UFC 329 on Paramount+ click here.
