Robert Whittaker believes he answered every question surrounding his move to light heavyweight after delivering an impressive performance in his UFC 329 debut at 205 pounds.
The former UFC middleweight champion stepped into unfamiliar territory on Saturday night when he faced ranked contender Nikita Krylov in Las Vegas. Despite concerns about how he would handle the size and power of the division, Robert Whittaker rose to the occasion, stopping Krylov via third-round TKO in a statement-making performance.
The victory marked an important turning point for Whittaker, who entered the bout on a two-fight losing streak and looking to prove that his career still has plenty left in the tank.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Whittaker admitted he felt significant pressure heading into the contest.
“Everything that could go right did go right. I can’t express to you how good I feel,” Whittaker said. “There were a lot of nerves going into this. Who hasn’t seen the story of a middleweight after two losses moving up to light heavyweight and then sliding into oblivion? I didn’t want to be that guy.”
Instead of fading into the background, Robert Whittaker may have opened a new chapter in his UFC career.
Krylov entered UFC 329 ranked No. 12 in the light heavyweight division, making him a tough first test for Whittaker’s move up in weight. The Australian insisted on facing a ranked opponent immediately because he wanted to know exactly where he stood in the division.
“I wanted someone ranked out of the gate,” Whittaker said. “I think a lot of questions have been answered. I feel like there were a lot of doubters out there. There were a lot of people that had questions. A lot of people wanted to see what the transition looked like, me going up. So, I think I silenced those guys and put my case forward.”
The win snapped a difficult stretch for Robert Whittaker, who had suffered back-to-back defeats against Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder. Against Krylov, however, he looked rejuvenated, showcasing the speed, striking, and fight IQ that made him one of the most respected fighters of his generation.
Now that he has successfully introduced himself to the light heavyweight division, Whittaker believes new opportunities could be on the horizon.
“I feel like the division is a buffet,” Whittaker said. “Winning opens doors, and I have won, and the doors are open.”
While he stopped short of calling for a title shot, the former champion acknowledged that his victory has positioned him well for another climb toward championship contention.
“I’m going to go enjoy myself and then get back to training because I don’t want to start at zero again,” Whittaker said. “I started this camp at zero, and that wasn’t fun. I didn’t take too much damage. Maybe by the end of the year we’ll get back in, keep moving up the ladder, keep progressing.”
Prior to UFC 329, Robert Whittaker revealed that moving to 205 pounds had revitalized him and potentially extended his fighting career. However, the 35-year-old has also made it clear that he does not intend to continue competing into his 40s.
