Australia’s first UFC champion, Robert Whittaker, is leaving the middleweight division where he made his name to reinvent himself as a light heavyweight.
But, make no mistake, this is no novelty act – it’s a full-on mission.
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After years battling the toughest 185-pounders in MMA, “The Reaper” wants to make it clear that this shift in weight classes isn’t about grabbing headlines or scoring big-money fights.
Or even being allowed to eat more cake.
The 35-year-old’s decision to change divisions is about longevity, potentially improved performance and taking one last – very serious – shot at UFC gold.
“The idea isn’t to go up there and muck around,” Rob told Fox Sports Australia.
“I like progression. I want to go in there, establish myself and move up the rankings.”
It’s an appealing prospect for Whittaker, who successfully made a similar transition years ago, after he won the Australia-versus-England edition of The Ultimate Fighter (dubbed “The Smashes”) as a welterweight.
The Sydneysider intends to be just as disciplined in his move up to light heavyweight, not just adding kilos around the middle.
“I don’t want to go into my next fight as a fat middleweight!” he joked. “I still need to be lean, still need to eat the right food. I just get to have a little bit more of it, which will help with my recovery and my lifestyle.”
There’s a perception among some fans that the Sydneysider is a smaller middleweight, relying on speed to make up for a lack of size. The former champ says that’s not really the case.
“It takes me a long while to get down to middleweight,” he reveals. “I walk around at about 105kg, day to day, which is still a decent amount above the light-heavyweight limit [of 93kg].”
While there’s little doubt Whittaker will be able to rejig his training and diet so he remains just as lean’n’mean as a 205-er, he’s also going to require some new training partners…
“The plan is probably to head over to City Kickboxing [in Auckland] for a stint, where I can move around with different bodies and bigger guys. But it’s going to be very hard work.”
Possible opponents
The UFC’s light-heavyweight division is full of big opponents and even bigger names. While there are no shortage of fan-pleasing options, there are a few match-ups that get the NZ-born Aussie himself excited.
“You know me, I’ll fight anyone,” said Whittaker.
“But I like the idea of Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz. I even like Magomed Ankalaev. I want to fight all of these guys!”
Former champion Ankalaev isn’t somebody anyone is rushing to face in the Octagon. Smart, tough, and from Dagestan to boot, even top fighters often give him a wide berth with good reason.
“I think his striking is actually better than his wrestling,” comments the man also known as “Bobby Knuckles”.
“It’d be really cool to see that bout come together – I think it’d be a really fun fight [between us].”
Then there’s the wild man of the weight class, Czech enigma Jiri Procházka…
“Jiri is a hard fight. I feel like if you don’t get him out of there quick, he doesn’t go away.
And his chances increase every second of every round after the first.
“That’s one guy I’m not super pumped to fight. He’s too crazy!”
White House wishlist
Whittaker is now aiming for a June return in his new weight class, but initially he’d hoped to be fighting on the UFC’s White House card.
When asked to rate his chances now, he was brutally honest.
“I’d say they are less than zero,” he grinned. “Everybody and their mate wants to get on that card.
“There are a lot of big names [being mentioned] and it’s a certain type of story that they are building and want to see unfold. It’s such a historic event.”
Indeed, the rumour mill has been buzzing with massive names like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. Whittaker reckons both should be there.
“I think you need both of those guys if you want it to be the biggest event in history. We need a spectacle [and] they are the most iconic, biggest names in the sport.”
High hopes for JDM
Meanwhile, fellow Oz star Jack Della Maddalena is set to meet Brazil’s Carlos Prates at UFC Perth in May, and Rob is confident the clash will be something special as JDM returns from losing the welterweight belt (his first defeat in 10 years).
“It’s a beautiful fight to make. I’m so pumped for that one. It’s going to be a clinical striking match for the ages.
“Both guys are huge finishers. I have no idea which direction it will go, but I’m obviously leaning towards Jack. A win like that is exactly how he bounces back.
“If he puts on a clinic against Prates, he’s right back in the conversation – and he takes all of the hype from Carlos to launch another title run.”
Can Rob do it again?
Those who enjoyed seeing Whittaker as the captain of Team Australia in hit Netflix reality competition Physical: Asia may’ve mistakenly believed he was transitioning out of the sport, but this surprise move up in weight is deadly serious.
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All that remains is to see if the Aussie can be as successful again as in his previous division switch, and whether he can match it with the baddest dudes currently competing at light heavyweight.
Given the killers he’s faced – and more often than not beaten – during his 16-year career, you wouldn’t bet against him.