Robert Whitaker is one of the greatest middleweights ever. Can he close his career with a light heavyweight run?
The 185-pound former UFC champion Whittaker has previously bullied the possibility of jumping to 205 pounds, but he has yet to commit to the move. About his latest episode Marcade Podcastshe was asked about the possibility of changing departments again and provided an updated timetable on when he would decide.
“I’m going to decide after this next fight,” Whitaker said. “One other thing at least in the middleweight division is just trying out the muscle-to-weight ratio and all the boundaries and see where we come out.”
On Whittaker’s latest outing at UFC 308 this October, he suffered a brutal loss of obedience to Chamzat Chimaev, and saw his jaw be dislocated by a crank in Chimaev’s face. He hasn’t officially booked his next fight yet, but he says that his match against fellow former middleweight champion Sean Strickland makes sense.
Strickland is still Whittaker’s best choice, and he has the June date in mind.
“That would be great,” Whittaker said. “International Fight Week.”
If “Grim Reaper” changes department, it’s not the first time he’s gained weight in the UFC. As a 21-year-old welterweight, Whittaker won the international edition The ultimate fighter He competed in the division several times before moving to middleweight in 2014 to win a UFC contract in 2012.
Whittaker thrived with the new Weight Class, rattling off six consecutive victories and setting up a matchup to win Yoel Romero and an interim title. He defeated Romero to insist on the belt, and was later promoted to the indisputable champion. He eventually dumped the title to Israel Adesanya, but he won prominent middleweight victories including Paulo Costa, Marvin Bettori, Kelvin Gastherum, Jared Canonier and Darren Till.
His only loss at 185 pounds is Chimaev, Adesanya and current champion Dorikas du Plessis.