Robert Whittaker Sparks Buzz With Latest Career Update
Former UFC middleweight kingpin Robert Whittaker outlined his plans for 2026 and expressed a desire to do something different.
Whittaker has lost his previous two bouts. In 2024, when he locked horns with Khamzat Chimaev, the latter submitted him with a rare-naked choke-cum-face-crank. Due to the choke, Whittaker suffered a dental injury.
After surgery and rehabilitation, he made his return earlier this year against an in-form Reinier de Ridder. After a hard-fought five-rounder, although the Australian landed the more damaging shots, ‘RDR’ stole the show with clinch strikes and overall damage and cruised to a split decision victory.
The middleweight division is presently stacked. The unstoppable Chimaev now reigns as champion and is rumored to fight Nassourdine Imavov next. Whittaker, hence, has a different plan.
Robert Whittaker plans on making a mid-2026 return
Robert Whittaker plans to return to the octagon in mid-2026 and move up to light heavyweight. Alex Pereira currently rules the 205-pound division. However, there have been talks about ‘Poatan’ moving up to heavyweight and fighting Ciryl Gane next because champion Tom Aspinall is currently recovering from a serious eye injury.
If Whittaker moves up and secures a win against former champion Magomed Ankalaev or any top contender like Carlos Ulberg or Khalil Rountree Jr., and ‘Poatan’ vacates, Whittaker’s route to a title shot will be simpler than fighting at middleweight and hoping to dethrone Khamzat Chimaev.
On the MMArcade Podcast, ‘The Reaper’ said:
“I want to get back in there next year. I don’t know how I want to do it, but I am working on some new skill sets… I want to get in there probably by mid-next year. I don’t know if it will be at middleweight. I am actually planning [on potentially moving up to light heavyweight.] I am a bigger guy now… Everyone’s going to say, ‘Oh, he’s too short, they’re taller than him.’ But what’s the difference? Everyone’s going to have reach on me anyway.”
Check out Robert Whittaker’s comments below:
