Robert Whittaker will fight on the UFC 329 prelims, a rare spot for the former middleweight champion.
What happened?
Whittaker faces Nikita Krylov on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Why it matters for Robert Whittaker
This marks Whittaker's light heavyweight debut after a big layoff.
Whittaker hasn't been in a prelim fight for a long time, but he's looking forward to it.
He told Submission Radio it makes sense given the circumstances.
## What comes next?
The fight will be available on Paramount+.
Whittaker's last prelim fight was at UFC 160, where he defeated Colton Smith by TKO.
The former champion is now 26-9 in MMA and 17-7 in the UFC.
## Key quote
Whittaker said: "I hate those late nights, they kill me a little bit."
He's looking forward to getting his fight out of the way earlier.
Whittaker wants to execute all he's been working on and feel himself out in the fight.
The event takes place on July 11, with Whittaker's fight being part of the featured prelims.
## UFC 329 details
The event will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the main card following the prelims.
Whittaker's opponent, Nikita Krylov, is 31-11 in MMA and 12-9 in the UFC.
## Robert Whittaker's focus
Whittaker is focused on his light heavyweight debut and getting back to business.
He's been working on new things and wants to feel how the fight feels.
## The road ahead
Whittaker's fight against Krylov is a crucial one, given his move up to 205.
A win could set him up for bigger fights in the light heavyweight division.
## What to expect
The fight between Whittaker and Krylov promises to be an exciting one.
Both fighters have a lot to prove, and the outcome is far from certain.
## Final thoughts
Whittaker's prelim fight may not be ideal, but he's making the most of it.
He's looking forward to getting in there and executing his game plan.