The booking adds one of Australian MMA\u2019s biggest names to a card headlined by hyped West Aussie phenom Quillan Salkilld\u2019s showdown with French powerhouse Benoit Saint-Denis<\/a>.<\/p>\n For \u2018Bobby Knuckles\u2019, it means a chance to continue his push at light heavyweight in front of his own fans. It will be Whittaker\u2019s first Sydney appearance in more than 12 years.<\/p>\n For Guskov, it is an opportunity to spoil the party \u2013 and add a former champion to his list of victims.<\/p>\n \u201cFighting in Sydney again is a dream come true,\u201d Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia on Monday morning.<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially after having to take the entire tribe across the world to The States.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in the veteran part of my career and I\u2019m having fun with it. Being able to do it in front of my friends, fans and family is great.\u201d<\/p>\n Whittaker spent years taking on the best middleweights on the planet, building a reputation as one of the sport\u2019s most respected fighters.<\/p>\n But his next fight comes against an opponent whose record makes the danger very clear.<\/p>\n Guskov has finished all 18 of his professional victories, with 15 coming by knockout. Every win has come inside the distance.<\/p>\n The Uzbek puncher established himself as a serious threat at light heavyweight with four consecutive UFC stoppage victories over Zac Pauga, Ryan Spann, Billy Elekana and Nikita Krylov.<\/p>\n Three of those fights ended in the opening round. Spann made it into the second before suffering the same fate.<\/p>\n That run carried Guskov into a clash with former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, with the pair fighting to a majority draw.<\/p>\n His unbeaten streak eventually ended against another former champion, Magomed Ankalaev, who stopped him in the fifth round of their July main event.<\/p>\n Volk eyes off Gaethje superfight | 00:47<\/p>\n When asked what he thought about the danger Guskov brings to the table, Whittaker was philosophical.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are all dangerous customers at light heavyweight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are all big and they all hit bloody hard. <\/p>\n \u201cThe idea is to be quick and nimble on my feet and hit him before he hits me. <\/p>\n \u201cKeep it simple.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know wholeheartedly I can beat everyone in the division. <\/p>\n \u201cHis name wasn\u2019t the first one that was thrown around. But his name came into the mix later and he was happy to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n The booking also gives February\u2019s card a strong Aussie presence at the top of the bill.<\/p>\n Salkilld will headline a UFC event for the first time against Saint-Denis, while Whittaker brings the experience of a former world champion to the fight immediately before it.<\/p>\n \u201cHow good is it to have headliners left right and centre!\u201d said Whittaker.<\/p>\n \u201cSalkilld, Volk the other week. Nolan yesterday smashing Moicano. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great time to be an Aussie.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE UFC<\/p>\n \u2018One back for the Anzacs\u2019: Aussie\u2019s revenge vow… and the huge name he wants next<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Robert](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1a0c7a0aa571237ce84280263b5d5f7a.jpeg\")
Robert Whittaker and Bogdan GuskovSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n