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Robert Whittaker extends MMA career thanks to light heavyweight move: "It is honestly life-changing"

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Robert Whittaker extends MMA career thanks to light heavyweight move: "It is honestly life-changing"

Robert Whittaker already feels his career has been extended before making his 205-pound debut.

Whittaker is scheduled to enter a light heavyweight bout for the first time on Saturday. The former UFC Middleweight Champion will meet Nikita Krylov in the featured preliminary bout of the UFC 329 card in Las Vegas. This will be Whittaker's first bout since his quick submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev back in 2024.

Now that he is done with the 185-pound weight class, Whittaker feels there is new life in his run as a prizefighter. “The Reaper†discussed how crucial making the jump to light heavyweight was during UFC 329 media day (via MMAFighting).

“The middleweight Rob Whittaker chapter has closed,†Whittaker said. “I'm very happy as a light heavyweight. It is honestly life-changing. I recommend it to anybody. … I still do have to cut weight, it's just not as brutal. It's not as bad.

“I was able to fuel myself much more during the camp. Recovery was much higher. My moods were better. Everything was just better for it.â€

Whittaker wanted to make it clear that despite feeling his fighting career has been extended, he won't go beyond a certain point.

“Let's be honest, I don't want to be fighting for another five years by any means, I've got other things I want to do,†Whittaker said. “I want to play Masters soccer, things like that. But I definitely have a few more in me now because the way I was feeling after the last couple of fights, the camps, how drained I was for them, how much of a grind it was, dragging my feet to get to everything. Comparatively, I definitely have a new love and lease on the game.â€

BJPenn.com's own Cole Shelton recently spoke to Whittaker, who praised Krylov as a worthy opponent for his light heavyweight debut. Whittaker said he's aware of how dangerous Krylov can be, but he feels he can capitalize on openings to secure the win on Saturday.

How do you see Robert Whittaker's light heavyweight debut playing out on Saturday? Sound off in the comments below.

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MMA

Jon Jones defends legacy, says he never used steroids despite failed tests

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Jon Jones defends legacy, says he never used steroids despite failed tests
Despite failing multiple drug tests, Jon Jones
insists that he never used steroids.

Jones (28-1) is considered one of the greatest fighters in
Ultimate Fighting Championship history. However, his legacy is
marred by multiple anti-doping violations throughout his career.
The former two-division champion recently reiterated past claims
that he's never taken performance-enhancing substances.

Jon Jones' UFC career remains tied to anti-doping controversies
and GOAT debates

Jones was stripped of the interim UFC lightweight heavyweight title
after testing positive for clomiphene and letrozole following his
win over Ovince St.
Preux in 2016. He again tested positive for a turinabol
metabolite in 2017, which led to his stoppage win over Daniel
Cormier in their rematch being overturned to a no contest.

While Jones tested positive for the M3 metabolite of oral turinabol
in 2018 following his win over Alexander
Gustafsson, “Bones†wasn't penalized as the substance was
deemed to be lasting effects from his previously failed drug
test.

However, Jones refuses to accept his doping violations. The former
UFC double champ insists that the failed drug tests were a result
of tainted supplements and also claims that the substances found in
his failed drug tests had no performance-enhancing effects.

“Never took steroids,†Jones told ALF Global. “It was a supplement
found in my body. It was proven to come from a supplement company
that I was using. It was a tainted supplement that I was using. The
amount of this substance that was in my body was so small that it
took very expensive scientists to be able to even find it and the
supplement that was found in my body has zero performance-enhancing
effects, zero. And that’s very well documented.â€

Jones then addressed fans and fighters who diminish his
accomplishments, claiming they don't look at the facts and jump to
conclusions.

“For some reason, the fans ignore all that, and they’re just like,
‘Something about steroids, he’s guilty.' I never did and that was
proven. It’s funny because fighters are like, ‘Jon Jones is a
knucklehead, but he’s brilliant enough to do steroids and trick the
UFC’s scientists.' It’s like, which one is it? Am I the knucklehead
or the mad genius?â€

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MMA

Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith arrested on serious felony charges

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Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith arrested on serious felony charges
Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Anthony
Smith has been arrested on multiple charges.

Anthony Smith remains in custody after his arrest in Nebraska
on multiple criminal charges

Smith (39-22) was arrested in Sarpy County, Nebraska, on charges of
terroristic threat, 1st degree false imprisonment and domestic
violence causing serious bodily injury. The former UFC light
heavyweight title challenger currently remains in police custody in
Sarpy County.

Terroristic threat and 1st degree false imprisonment carry a
maximum of three years in prison, plus fines and post-release
supervision. Meanwhile, the domestic violence charge can result in
a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Smith left the UFC on a three-fight slump following a loss to
Mingyang
Zhang last year. “Lionheart†returned to competition this past
April, scoring a submission win in Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA.

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MMA

No Bets Barred: Breaking down the best bets for UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez

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No Bets Barred: Breaking down the best bets for UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez

For the very first time, the UFC is heading to Serbia.

On Saturday, UFC Belgrade goes down at Belgrade Arena, headlined by a welterweight main event between Uros Medic and Daniel Rodriguez. But what's at stake between these two, with Medic surging and Rodriguez fighting for the first time since a harrowing stint in a Mexican prison?

This week, host Jed Meshew flies solo to break down the full UFC Belgrade card. Topics discussed include whether or not Rodriguez is getting overlooked against Medic, just how long Jan Blachowicz can keep getting away with this, a ton of debuting Serbian fighters, a few gems on the undercard, some PFL action, and the latest update on The Climb.

Tune in for episode 160 of No Bets Barred.

New episodes of the No Bets Barred podcast drop every Wednesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you find your favorite podcasts. The latest episode can be heard below.

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