Robert Whittaker Dominates in Light Heavyweight Debut

Pulse Sports Team 07:51 - 12 July 2026

Robert Whittaker made a successful light heavyweight debut, securing a knockout victory at UFC 329. The former middleweight champion overcame Nikita Krylov with a decisive finish.

Despite a significant size disadvantage, Whittaker's speed was undeniable, and his power translated effectively to the new division, visibly hurting Krylov multiple times throughout the bout. The end came when Whittaker landed a heavy right hand to Krylov's head, followed by another powerful strike. Krylov immediately clutched his jaw, signaling a potential injury, and indicated he could no longer continue as the referee stepped in to stop the contest at 1:01 of the third round.

"Enjoy that, Reddit!" Whittaker quipped after his victory. "Honestly, there were a lot of nerves. We've seen fighters move up a weight class and falter... but we can still do it. I trained throughout the entire camp with the idea that my opponent would be like the boogeyman. I entered the cage heavy enough and I hit as hard as anyone else. This is my new home. The middleweight chapter is closed," he added.

With this win, Whittaker snapped a two-fight losing streak.