MMA
Robert Whittaker admits light heavyweight move comes with major risks
Published
1 month agoon
Former UFC middleweight king Robert Whittaker has committed to a
permanent move to 205. | 📷: Getty/UFC
Robert
Whittaker acknowledges the “risk and threat†of moving up to
light heavyweight in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Ahead of his fight with Nikita
Krylov at
UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,
Whittaker reflected on how power is among the most important
factors in the light heavyweight division, regardless of individual
skill level.
Robert Whittaker breaks down the dangers of light heavyweight
move
Whittaker, who has committed to a permanent move up to the light
heavyweight division, spoke about the challenging aspects of the
move ahead of UFC 329. The Australian highlighted that power is the
equalizer and that, irrespective of technical ability, almost all
strikes absorbed at 205 pounds will be damaging.
“You see, power is the ultimate equaliser, and I understand that,â€
the former UFC middleweight champion said in a recent interview. “I
understand that you don't… It doesn't matter how technical you are;
if you get hit hard by a heavy dude, it's going to hurt. So, I
understand the risk and the threat. That is the danger of moving up
to light heavyweight.â€
Nevertheless, Whittaker remains confident his skills will translate
to the heavier division.
“But I believe my skill set is champion level,†he added. “The
speed that I have, the physicality that I have, are at a champion
level, and I am going to bring them.â€
Whittaker is coming off back-to-back losses at middleweight, which
prompted the move. Krylov, his next opponent, is a seasoned veteran
and a natural 205-pounder. However, the Ukrainian-born Russian
isn't known for his power, relying on durability and grappling
skills instead.
“I understand the test that is light
heavyweight.â€Robert
Whittaker (@robwhittakermma)
reflects on his move up to 205 and why now was the right moment to
make the change.How To Watch #UFC329
âž¡ï¸: https://t.co/8hweKmO9uwFight by Fight Preview âž¡ï¸: https://t.co/lvHfeifRYK pic.twitter.com/Ead5bQZnvr
— UFC News (@UFCNews)
July 8, 2026
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MMA
Islam Makhachev's coach picks apart Ian Machado Garry's 'killer instinct' criticism from Dana White
Published
9 hours agoon
August 18, 2026
Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCUFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev's longtime coach believes Ian Machado Garry didn't need ‘killer instinct' at UFC 330.
UFC welterweight champ Islam Makhachev defended his title unanimously against Ian Machado Garry last weekend at UFC 330. After becoming the UFC's latest two-division champ, Makhachev put on another impressive performance to stop Garry's meteoric rise.
Garry's pattern of showing respect for Makhachev throughout their fight led UFC CEO Dana White to question his ‘killer instinct'. During the UFC 330 post-fight press conference, White criticized Garry's last-fight pace, saying if he had a ‘killer instinct', he could've had Makhachev in a lot of trouble.
But Makhachev's longtime coach doesn't believe a ‘killer instinct' would've made the difference at UFC 330.
Islam Makhachev's longtime coach questions Dana White's ‘killer instinct' criticism
In a recent interview with Parimach Online Casino, Islam Makhachev's longtime coach Javier Mendez reacted to White's post-fight criticism of Garry.
“I think every fighter is different,†Mendez said of Garry's lack of ‘killer instinct' against Makhachev.
“I have so many fighters that, if they have that killer instinct, they usually tighten up. They try too hard, whereas if they have a relaxed time, like what he did, it kind of throws you off guard. That's what he did at the very beginning. He came out, shook everybody's hands, shook all the coaches' hands. I've never had that happen to me.
“He was smiling like he had this in the bag, and for me, that got me right away. I went, ‘Oh, he's really confident here. Very, very confident.' What Dana took one way, I took as super, super confident,†Makhachev's longtime coach continued on Garry. “I felt he was telling us goodbye, ‘Thank you, guys, but I'm winning this.' That's what I felt. He came out with that attitude too. I don't think it had anything to do with what Dana said. I think that's just for him to motivate himself, and I think he did fantastic.†(h/t MMA Junkie)
Garry earned recent wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates before the loss to Makhachev. The 28-year-old has plenty of time to potentially get another shot at UFC gold.
Will Ian Machado Garry fight for a UFC welterweight title again? Let us know your thoughts on his future in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
MMA
Anthony Smith pleads not guilty to four felony charges in Nebraska
Published
9 hours agoon
August 18, 2026
Smith has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges stemming
from a July domestic incident in Nebraska.
Court records confirmed
Smith’s plea, resulting in the cancellation of an arraignment
scheduled for Aug. 17. The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title
challenger is now due back in court for a status hearing Sept. 21
in Sarpy County.
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith faces four felony
charges stemming from an alleged July domestic incident in Gretna,
Nebraska
Smith faces one Class 2 felony count involving an attempted Class 1
offense, a terroristic-threats charge and two counts of
first-degree false imprisonment, all classified as Class 3A
felonies. A Class 2 felony in Nebraska can carry a prison term of
one to 50 years, while Class 3A felonies carry up to three years of
imprisonment and 18 months of post-release supervision.
Prosecutors allege that Smith became involved in an altercation
with his wife at a Gretna, Nebraska, bar on July 26. They claim
Smith threatened to kill his wife, forced her into his vehicle and
later attempted to strike her with the vehicle after she exited it.
His wife was not physically injured, according to prosecutors’
account.
Smith has not publicly addressed the allegations. His wife, Mikhala
Renee Newman, previously offered a different characterization of
the incident, saying Smith was experiencing a mental health crisis
and that she had sought help to protect him from himself.
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