Nikita Krylov predicts Robert Whittaker's light heavyweight move will fail

Nikita Krylov predicts Robert Whittaker's light heavyweight debut will result in defeat, comparing the Australian's move to failed weight-class transitions by Israel Adesanya and Chris Weidman. Krylov believes Whittaker will return to middleweight after losing at 205 pounds, much as Adesanya suffered a title-loss to Jan Blachowicz in 2021 and Weidman fell to Dominick Reyes in 2019. "It looks like he wants to move up like Alex Pereira. But I think it may end up the way it did in Adesanya's case," Krylov told Red Corner MMA. "Jan Blachowicz beat Israel Adesanya; Dominick Reyes beat Chris Weidman; I'd like to see something similar for Robert as well." Whittaker (26-9) is moving up after consecutive losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder without reclaiming the middleweight title he lost to Adesanya in 2019. Krylov (31-11) has compiled a 6-6 UFC record since debuting in 2018 and is coming off a stoppage victory over Modestas Bukauskas, rebounding from back-to-back defeats to Dominick Reyes and Bogdan Guskov. Their bout takes place July 11 at UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.