Robert Whittaker is officially leaving the middleweight division behind. The former 185-pound king, who has become a staple of the weight class since 2014, announced this week that his next appearance in the Octagon will “almost certainly” take place at light heavyweight.
Whittaker, now 35, is targeting a return to action in June and believes the move up to 205 pounds is necessary to extend his career and reignite his passion for the sport.
The decision comes on the heels of a two-fight losing streak that has stalled his momentum in the division he once ruled. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Whittaker revealed the physical toll that cutting to the middleweight limit has taken on his body in recent years. “The weight cuts suck even more,” Whittaker admitted.
He disclosed that his walk-around weight sits near 235 pounds, making the descent to 185 a debilitating process that leaves him feeling “weak” and drained by the time he steps into the cage. “I’m getting older,” he explained. “I want to spend my remaining time in the game having fun, not killing myself to make it to fights.”
The move is less about chasing a specific title and more about ensuring his final chapter in the sport is enjoyable rather than a grueling test of endurance.
Critics of the move often point to Whittaker’s stature; at 6-foot-0, he would be significantly undersized against the giants of the light heavyweight division. However, “The Reaper” was quick to dismiss these concerns, noting that he was already undersized at middleweight.
“I know the growing trend is, ‘Rob’s a small middleweight,’ but I’m just short with stumpy arms,” he joked. “I’m short for the division anyway, so there’s not much difference going up. They’re taller than me down in middleweight.” Whittaker believes his speed and revamped fight style—which he plans to hone over a dedicated three-to-four-month camp—will be even more effective against slower, plodding opponents at 205 pounds.
Whittaker views the current landscape of the light heavyweight division as ripe for the taking. “I feel like the division is open,” he said. “I feel like there are some good fights to be had. I feel like there’s a lot of guys that I can — my skill set can prevail on.”
After taking time off to “soul search” and question his future in fighting, Whittaker asserts he is “90 percent there” on the decision to move up. He plans to finalize the details with his team this week before locking in his training camp for a summer return, determined to prove that his skills translate regardless of the number on the scale.
