Three Fights Robert Whittaker Should Take Next After UFC 329

Robert Whittaker's second-round TKO of Nikita Krylov at UFC 329 reminded everyone why "The Reaper" remains one of the middleweight division's most complete fighters. At 34, with retirement talk surfacing in recent interviews, Whittaker sits in the strange position of being too skilled for gatekeepers but needing a clear path back to gold. Here are three fights that make sense for his next outing, ranked by timing and upside.

1. Caio Borralho — The Title Eliminator
Borralho is undefeated in the UFC, riding a six-fight streak and hunting for a signature scalp. Stylistically, this is a chess match: Borralho's pressure wrestling and grinding pace against Whittaker's anti-wrestling toolkit and sharper boxing. If Whittaker wins, he'd leapfrog directly into title contention with a clear case that he's solved the next generation. If Borralho takes it, he earns the veteran's credibility stamp. The UFC loves these passing-the-torch scenarios, and Whittaker has never shied from spoiler duty. Book it for a main event in Australia and watch the narrative write itself.

2. Paulo Costa — The Redemption Rematch
Whittaker outpointed Costa at UFC 298 in February 2024, but the fight was closer than the scorecards suggested. Costa landed heavy shots in the clinch and had moments where Whittaker looked human. A rematch would test whether Whittaker can replicate the game plan or if Costa's adjustments close the gap. More importantly, it's marketable: both men throw violence, both have title history, and the first fight proved they gel as dance partners. This one probably needs a Brazilian card to maximize the box office, but it checks every box for a high-stakes co-main event. Winner gets a guaranteed contender slot.

3. Jack Hermansson — The Tactical Showcase
If the UFC wants to keep Whittaker active without burning a contender matchup, Hermansson is the ideal opponent. The Swede is durable, well-rounded, and always game, but he's also a step below the elite tier where Whittaker operates. Stylistically, Hermansson's grappling-heavy approach would force Whittaker to demonstrate his takedown defense again, something that looked sharp against Krylov. It's a low-risk, high-reward showcase fight that lets Whittaker stay busy while the title picture clarifies. Think of it as a tune-up with enough danger to stay interesting, perfect for a Fight Night headliner in Europe or a pay-per-view prelim main event.

Whittaker has hinted that his timeline is compressing. If he's serious about one more run at the belt, the Borralho fight needs to happen by summer. If the UFC wants to stretch his value across multiple cards, the Costa rematch and Hermansson bout offer safer paths. Either way, Whittaker remains one of the few middleweights who can headline anywhere on earth and deliver. The question is whether matchmaking gives him the fast lane or makes him earn it the long way.