Robert Whittaker is thinking about moving up to light heavyweight for his next fight. The former middleweight champion revealed that cutting weight to make 185 pounds has been extremely difficult, leaving him drained at the end of training camps.
“The last couple of cuts have been hard … I feel like the division is open,” Whittaker said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I feel like there are a lot of guys that my skill set can prevail on. I’m at a point where I could be convinced out of [moving up] but… I feel so weak by the end of the 185-pound camp. It takes a lot of fun out of it… I’m 90 percent there [towards moving up.]”
Whittaker’s career has been filled with big wins and memorable fights. He captured the interim middleweight title against Yoel Romero in 2017 and later became the undisputed champion when Georges St-Pierre vacated the belt. Whittaker defended his title in a rematch against Romero, though it was a non-title fight because Romero missed weight.
Recent Challenges and Career Moves
After losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in 2019, Whittaker had a mixed record, including a rematch loss to Adesanya in 2022. More recently, he suffered back-to-back losses against Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder. These results, along with tough weight cuts, are influencing his consideration to move to light heavyweight.
The move would allow Whittaker to fight at a more comfortable weight while still using his skills against top opponents. He acknowledges he could still be persuaded to stay at middleweight, but at the moment, the plan is leaning heavily toward light heavyweight.
Meanwhile, middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is seeking a light heavyweight fight against Alex Pereira, who himself has hinted at moving to heavyweight. Whittaker’s move could shake up the division and create new opportunities for other fighters.
Whittaker has made it clear that he is almost fully committed to the switch. At 90 percent sure, he is weighing his options and considering how his career can continue at a higher weight class. The decision reflects both his health and competitive strategy, aiming for fights where he can perform at his best without extreme weight cutting.
