Whittaker mulling light heavyweight move after next UFC fight

Australian UFC fighter Robert Whittaker is considering making a switch to the light heavyweight division after his next bout.

The 34-year-old has fought most of his career as a middleweight, claiming the belt in 2017 and holding it for two years until Israel Adesanya handed him his first defeat in the division.

Since then he has had mixed success, losing again to Adesanya as well as Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev while also racking up six wins over other opponents.

Whittaker is eager for at least one more fight at middleweight before a potential move up in weight class.

“I’m going to decide after this next fight,” he said on Monday.

“So one more at middleweight at the very least.

“Depending on that, I’m going to really try and push the boundaries of muscle-to-weight ratio and everything and just see where we come up.”

Whittaker’s next fight is yet to be announced, but the Aussie has expressed his desire to step into the octagon with another former middleweight champ, Sean Strickland.

“That would be great. International Fight Week,” he said.

Whittaker also took the time to sow some seeds should he make the move to light heavyweight, giving his take on Alex Pereira’s loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier this month.

“I think the hype and confidence train that Pereira had, that ‘if he touches you, you’re going to go out’ sort of vibe, is now moot-ish because Ankalaev didn’t die,” he said.

“Like, he didn’t go to sleep when Alex punched him.

“I think it gave him so much confidence that it’s almost lent itself to why he’s asking for that rematch straight away.

“He’s like, all the boogeyman vibes, all the mysteries and uncertainties are now gone.

“I can beat him. He is very beatable, he is human, like anybody else.

“I honestly think Ankalaev does better.

“I think it’s not as close as it just was.

“I don’t see the second fight going any differently.”

Pereira was a favourite across UFC betting sites going into the pair’s title fight but lost by unanimous decision.

While a rematch is yet to be announced, top bookmakers have Ankalaev speculatively priced at $1.25 to win, with Pereira now the outsider at $2.50.

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