Robert Whittaker Moves Up to Light Heavyweight, Faces Nikita Krylov
Robert Whittaker is set to make his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov at UFC 329 on July 11.
The event takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the UFC's annual International Fight Week.
Whittaker has been in the UFC since 2012, winning "The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes" and later becoming the interim UFC middleweight title holder in 2017.
He was promoted to undisputed champion and has a 17-7 UFC record in 24 bouts.
After losing two straight fights to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder, Whittaker decided to move up to light heavyweight due to the weight cut becoming too much.
Krylov is a longtime veteran of the sport and a gatekeeper to the top-15 rankings at 205 lbs, making him an ideal opponent for Whittaker's debut.
Krylov is coming off a KO win over Modestas Bukauskas in his last fight.
The current middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, is also considering a move up to light heavyweight.
Another fight added to UFC 329 is a lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis, which will likely be the co-main event.
The card is shaping up to be one of the best of the year, with a rumored main event rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway.
Whittaker's light heavyweight debut will be a key storyline to follow as the event approaches.
The UFC always features fighters from different parts of the globe during International Fight Week, making the Whittaker vs. Krylov and Pimblett vs. Saint Denis fights perfect additions to the card.
Whittaker started his UFC career as a welterweight, going 3-2 before moving to middleweight and achieving great success.
He has a 14-5 record as a middleweight and is now looking to make an impact at light heavyweight.
The 35-year-old Whittaker is one of the most beloved and successful fighters in the UFC, with a career spanning over 15 years.
His move to light heavyweight marks a new chapter in his career, and fans will be eager to see how he performs in his debut.