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LAS VEGAS – Robert Whittaker is done fighting at 185 pounds.
The former UFC middleweight champion confirmed that his days in the weight class that made him a name in MMA are over, and his light heavyweight move at Saturday's UFC 329 is no trial, but a permanent decision in his career. Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC), who held the UFC title at 185 pounds from 2017 to 2019, is making his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov (31-11 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in the preliminary card of UFC 329, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena.
So far, Whittaker enjoyed fight week a weight above and is excited to continue down this path.
"The middleweight Robert Whittaker, the chapter has closed," Whittaker said at Wednesday's UFC 329 media day. "I'm very happy as a light heavyweight. It is honestly life-changing. I recommend it to anybody.
"... It's a new chapter, a new page. I'm looking to test the waters with Nikita, tough guy. I look to have some fun."
Whittaker will be completing his 25th fight under the UFC banner this Saturday. Despite being a veteran and knowing all the ins and outs of fighting, not having to cut down to 185 pounds has opened up a new experience for the Australian.
"Honestly, it really is life-changing for me," Whittaker said about his weight class change. "I'm enjoying the journey. Normally, by this period. I'm hungry, waterloading, and longing to go home and missing my wife and kids. You know what? Just counting down the days till it's over, where I feel fighting requires such a high degree of focus and attention that you can't be looking past it. So wanting to go home, it's kind of splitting my attention. So yeah, I'm at a good place right now."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 329's Robert Whittaker: 'The chapter has closed' at middleweight
Continue reading...
The former UFC middleweight champion confirmed that his days in the weight class that made him a name in MMA are over, and his light heavyweight move at Saturday's UFC 329 is no trial, but a permanent decision in his career. Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC), who held the UFC title at 185 pounds from 2017 to 2019, is making his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov (31-11 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in the preliminary card of UFC 329, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena.
So far, Whittaker enjoyed fight week a weight above and is excited to continue down this path.
"The middleweight Robert Whittaker, the chapter has closed," Whittaker said at Wednesday's UFC 329 media day. "I'm very happy as a light heavyweight. It is honestly life-changing. I recommend it to anybody.
"... It's a new chapter, a new page. I'm looking to test the waters with Nikita, tough guy. I look to have some fun."
Whittaker will be completing his 25th fight under the UFC banner this Saturday. Despite being a veteran and knowing all the ins and outs of fighting, not having to cut down to 185 pounds has opened up a new experience for the Australian.
"Honestly, it really is life-changing for me," Whittaker said about his weight class change. "I'm enjoying the journey. Normally, by this period. I'm hungry, waterloading, and longing to go home and missing my wife and kids. You know what? Just counting down the days till it's over, where I feel fighting requires such a high degree of focus and attention that you can't be looking past it. So wanting to go home, it's kind of splitting my attention. So yeah, I'm at a good place right now."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 329's Robert Whittaker: 'The chapter has closed' at middleweight
Continue reading...
