Robert Whittaker says light heavyweight move extends career

Robert Whittaker believes his shift to heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight has given him fresh legs for the final stretch of his UFC career.

The former middleweight champion makes his 205-pound debut Saturday against Nikita Krylov at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, and he told media Wednesday that the less punishing weight cut has transformed both his training camps and his outlook on fighting. "I definitely have a few more in me now," Whittaker said, per MMA Fighting, adding that his recent camps at middleweight left him "drained" and "dragging my feet to get to everything."

Why Whittaker walked away from middleweight

Whittaker spent 12 years at 185 pounds but arrives at heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight on a two-fight skid — a split decision loss to Reinier de Ridder followed by a submission defeat to Khamzat Chimaev. The 35-year-old said those results mattered less than the grueling preparation they required. He was able to fuel himself better during this camp, recover faster, and stay in a better mood throughout. "The middleweight Rob Whittaker chapter has closed," he said. "I'm very happy as a light heavyweight. It is honestly life-changing."

Whittaker completed the final portion of his camp at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, seeking fresh sparring partners at his new weight. He said the move has renewed his focus, eliminating the mental drift that plagued his last few fight weeks when he found himself counting down the days until he could go home.

Krylov enters Saturday with a 9-7 UFC record at light heavyweight and wins over Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir, and Johnny Walker. Whittaker said he plans to stay at 205 pounds regardless of the outcome, noting that several former middleweight rivals — Chimaev, de Ridder, Paulo Costa — have already made the same jump. "I'm never going back to middleweight," he said. "That fella is gone."

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• MMA Fighting — Robert Whittaker: ‘I definitely have a few more in me now’ thanks to light heavyweight move