Robert Whittaker already gives up size and reach when he’s competing at middleweight so he’s not too concerned about how that might affect him while contemplating a possible move up to 205 pounds in 2026.
The former 185-pound champion has endured a tough run lately after a face crank from Khamzat Chiamev cracked several of his teeth and then he dropped a close split decision to Reinier de Ridder in his only appearance during 2025. With a 2-3 record over his past five fights, Whittaker is likely out of title contention for the time being and at 35 years old, it’s not getting any easier to make the middleweight limit for his fights.
That’s why Whittaker is actually considering a move up to light heavyweight when he returns to compete again in 2026.
“I want to get in there probably about mid-next year. I don’t know if it will be at middleweight,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade podcast. “I’m actually playing with the idea [about moving to light heavyweight]. Potentially.
“I’m a bigger guy now. Everyone’s going to say, ‘Oh, he’s too short!’ They’re taller than me here [at middleweight], what’s the difference? Everyone’s got height on me anyway. Everyone’s got reach on me anyway.”
It would be a remarkable move for Whittaker after he started his career in the UFC as a welterweight following a stint on The Ultimate Fighter reality show. While he found some success at 170 pounds, Whittaker became a champion at middleweight after rattling off eight wins in a row including a pair of victories over Yoel Romero.
His title reign came to an end in 2019 when Whittaker suffered a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya and he’s never gotten back to the belt again.
Whittaker has definitely scored some big wins at middleweight after losing the championship with his hit list including Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa.
But it’s never easy to make weight and it sounds like Whitter might have some interest in testing himself at 205 pounds. Just to put it into context, Whittaker stands 6-foot-tall with a 73-inch reach while reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is 6-foot-4-inches tall with a 79-inch reach so the size disadvantage is definitely real in that division.
Still it sounds like Whittaker is at least entertaining the idea as he looks to get back on track in 2026.
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