Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has officially announced his decision to transition to the light heavyweight division for his next fight. This significant move comes after a period of contemplation, particularly following back-to-back losses in the 185-pound weight class.
“After my last fight, I took a really good rest, took some breaks, and worked on other things,” Whittaker explained. “It’s given me a moment to truly settle in and figure out my path forward. I’m locking in now, aiming for June. I want to get in there and fight again, most likely at 205 pounds.”
Whittaker views this change as an opportunity to explore new possibilities during what he describes as the “tail end of his career.” He expressed a clear desire to “give it a go” rather than dwelling on “what-ifs.”
The idea of moving up a weight class isn’t new for “The Reaper,” who revealed he had been considering it for a “long time.” During his recent break, he even began training at a heavier weight, signaling his intent to commit fully to this new division.
While Whittaker stated he has no issues physically making the 186-pound middleweight limit, he questions whether the strenuous weight cut might be impacting his peak performance. “There’s no doubt in my mind I could make middleweight. I can make it still, I can lose the weight,” he clarified. “But I just don’t know if I’m getting the best out of myself having to cut that weight, because camp performance truly suffers on the backend of a weight cut.”
Ultimately, he concluded, “I don’t know. Try something different. It’s my life.”
