Robert Whittaker is almost certain his next fight will be at 205 pounds.<\/p>\n
A surefire Hall of Famer whenever he retires, Whittaker has accomplished more than most fighters could ever dream of. Joining the UFC in 2012 as The Ultimate Fighter: Smashes welterweight winner, the man affectionately dubbed \u201cBobby Knuckles\u201d bumped up to middleweight in 2014, where he\u2019s had enormous success, even winning the UFC title in 2017. But all good things must come to an end, and it appears Whittaker is ready to once again move up in weight.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely, I\u2019m coming back in June,\u201d Whittaker told Ariel Helwani<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to split my attention between the craft, the fighting, my next fight, and broadcasting and traveling, and stuff. I want to lock in. So, after I get back from Vegas and doing this, I\u2019m going to lock in, give myself a proper three months, three-four-ish months to work on some things \u2014 which I\u2019ve been doing anyway, but I want to come into the next fight different, because I don\u2019t know, people have been watching my style for too long. I think it\u2019s time for a change. \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely not down. \u2026 The last couple of cuts have been hard. I know the growing trend is, \u2018Rob\u2019s a small middleweight,\u2019 but I\u2019m just short with stumpy arms. I\u2019m short for the division anyway, so there\u2019s not much difference going up. They\u2019re taller than me down in middleweight.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a big guy. People don\u2019t realize how long it takes me to get down to the weight. \u2026 [I weigh] like, 235 [pounds].\u201d<\/p>\n While the bulk of his career success has come at middleweight, Whittaker is 35 years old and has been teasing a possible move up for some time. Now on a two-fight losing streak at 185, a change in weight classes may open up more opportunities for the former champion.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the division is open,\u201d Whittaker said. \u201cI feel like there are some good fights to be had. I feel like there\u2019s a lot of guys that I can \u2014 my skill set can prevail on. But like I said, wait and see. We\u2019re going to have some conversations with some people this week and lock things in after.\u201d<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just his current position at middleweight and the landscape at 205 that appeals to Whittaker. \u201cThe Reaper\u201d doesn\u2019t have many years left in the sport, and he wants to spend his remaining time in the game having fun, not killing himself to make it to fights.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m at a point where I could be convinced out of it,\u201d Whittaker said. \u201cThat\u2019s what a lot of the break was about, as well. \u2018What do I do? Do I want to keep doing this?\u2019 I just feel so weak at the end of the camp, at the \u201885 camp. And fight week, I\u2019m eating nothing to get down to a point where I can cut the water. It takes a lot of the fun out of it. \u2026<\/p>\n \u201c[I\u2019m] 90 percent there. \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no soul searching. It\u2019s just trying to make it a bit more enjoyable. I\u2019m getting older. The weight cuts suck even more. Also, with the fight-style changes, I think that the changes will be better from a heavier position. There\u2019s a lot of reasons why I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n Injury. \u2018I\u2019ll be using boots and crutches for a few weeks\u2019: Diego Lopes provides injury update<\/a> after UFC 325 loss to Alexander Volkanovski.<\/p>\n Growth. Kamaru Usman: Khamzat Chimaev is calling out Alex Pereira because he\u2019s \u2018outgrown\u2019 middleweight already<\/a>.<\/p>\n New Face. Paddy Pimblett reflects on brutal Justin Gaethje loss: \u2018He made my face look different.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Fight. \u2018I\u2019m not easy money\u2019<\/a>: Esteban Ribovics sends message to Renato Moicano telling him to accept UFC 326 fight.<\/p>\n Post Fight. What was the point of Alexander Volkanvoski fighting Diego Lopes again?: Looking at the big storylines from UFC 325<\/a>.<\/p>\n New Era. Taking a look at the good, bad, and everything els<\/a>e after the first two UFC on Paramount shows.<\/p>\n Opinion. Jose Aldo is still the featherweight GOAT<\/a>. For now.<\/p>\n Daniel Cormier and Tom Brady.<\/p>\n Aljo talks about Volk v. Lopes 2.<\/p>\n Paramount previewing this weekend\u2019s card.<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/p>\n Kape trying to double dip.<\/p>\n Rampage and Mark Coleman hanging out.<\/p>\n Movsar Evloev (19-0) vs. Lerone Murphy (17-0-1); UFC London, March 21<\/p>\n Luke Riley (12-0) vs. Michael Aswell (11-3); UFC London, March 21<\/p>\n Honestly, Whittaker is right. Look at the light heavyweight rankings right now. That division is BAD. I\u2019m kind of surprised Adesanya hasn\u2019t moved up already, and if RDR loses his next one, he\u2019s almost certainly moving up. Every 185er not in contention should bail to 205.<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee<\/a> or @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n