Overview
- On the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker said he aims to fight around mid-2026 and is working on new skills for his comeback.
- He confirmed he is considering moving from middleweight to light heavyweight, arguing that reach disadvantages would be similar for him at 205.
- No bout, opponent, or final weight class has been set, with his timeline and move presented as plans rather than a confirmed booking.
- He enters 2026 on a two-fight skid, including a 2024 loss to Khamzat Chimaev that required dental surgery and a 2025 split-decision defeat to Reinier de Ridder.
- He framed the possible switch as a pragmatic option given a crowded middleweight landscape under champion Khamzat Chimaev and has also discussed a near-term retirement window and interest in boxing.