Overview
- Robert Whittaker defeated Nikita Krylov by TKO at 1:01 of the third round in the UFC 329 prelims on Saturday in Las Vegas, marking his first fight at 205 pounds.
- Broadcasters and outlets immediately speculated Krylov suffered a broken jaw after the finish but UFC president Dana White said post-fight that Krylov’s jaw was not broken following transport and evaluation.
- Whittaker told media after the fight that he will remain at light heavyweight and repeatedly said he will not fight teammates or training partners, specifically ruling out champion Carlos Ulberg.
- The win should move Whittaker into the 205-pound rankings and quickly places him among candidates for top-15 matchups, with analysts naming several veteran light heavyweights as plausible next opponents.
- Whittaker moved up after painful middleweight cuts and back-to-back losses, and his debut shows his speed and power carry to 205, a shift that reshapes matchmaking needs for the division and the fighter’s late-career plan.