Robert Whittaker wins light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 12, 2026, 8:34 AM
Last updated Jul 12, 2026
Robert Whittaker made a successful debut in the light heavyweight division at UFC 329, defeating Nikita Krylov via third-round TKO. This marked Whittaker's move up from welterweight and middleweight after 14 years in the UFC. Dana White praised Whittaker's performance and noted that Krylov did not sustain a broken jaw during the fight. Following this victory, Whittaker is expected to enter the top-15 rankings and may face the winner of the upcoming fight between Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov or Alonzo Menifield in his next bout.
- •Whittaker wins by TKO in round three against Krylov.
- •Whittaker transitioned to light heavyweight at age 35.
- •Dana White confirmed Krylov did not break his jaw.
- •Whittaker likely to enter the top-15 light heavyweight rankings.
- •Possible next opponents include Jan Blachowicz or Alonzo Menifield.
- 1:20 AMYahoo Sports — Robert Whittaker says 205 debut at UFC 329 felt like middleweight
- 8:34 AMYahoo Sports — Dana White Comments on Robert Whittaker’s 205 lbs Debut
"UFC president Dana White commented about Robert Whittaker’s successful 205 lbs debut against Nikita Krylov at UFC 329. After spending the first 14 years of his UFC career fighting at welterweight and middleweight, Whittaker moved up to light heavyweight at age 35 to give himself another life in the sport after sapping himself by cutting […] The post Dana White Comments on Robert Whittaker’s 205 lbs Debut appeared first on HEAVY.
"A full 20 pounds north of the division he was UFC champ in, Robert Whittaker said his light heavyweight debut felt like any other middleweight fight.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 13, 2026, 1:20 AMRobert Whittaker says 205 debut at UFC 329 felt like middleweight
A full 20 pounds north of the division he was UFC champ in, Robert Whittaker said his light heavyweight debut felt like any other middleweight fight.
- Yahoo SportsJul 12, 2026, 8:34 AMDana White Comments on Robert Whittaker’s 205 lbs Debut
UFC president Dana White commented about Robert Whittaker’s successful 205 lbs debut against Nikita Krylov at UFC 329. After spending the first 14 years of his UFC career fighting at welterweight and middleweight, Whittaker moved up to light heavyweight at age 35 to give himself another life in the sport after sapping himself by cutting […] The post Dana White Comments on Robert Whittaker’s 205 lbs Debut appeared first on HEAVY.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- UFC•Jul 13, 2026, 6:55 AMJack Della Maddalena Thinks Max Holloway Can Dominate 170 lbs
- UFC•Jul 13, 2026, 6:26 AMIslam Makhachev trolls Conor McGregor following UFC 329 injury
- UFC•Jul 13, 2026, 6:22 AMKing Green Called Out By Rafael dos Anjos After UFC 329 Victory
- UFC•Jul 13, 2026, 5:37 AMTerence Crawford reacts to Conor McGregor's UFC 329 injury with brutal message
- UFC•Jul 13, 2026, 4:08 AMJosh Hokit accuses Paddy Pimblett of being ‘two-faced’ after UFC 329
- UFC•Jul 13, 2026, 3:48 AMConor McGregor’s UFC 329 injury sparks Sean Strickland’s steroid theory
