Robert Whittaker’s planned move to light heavyweight already has a prominent voice calling for a stern test, with UFC broadcaster Brendan Fitzgerald circling Khalil Rountree Jr. as the ideal first opponent.
Whittaker, 35, is set to compete at 205 pounds in his next fight after a career that has already spanned multiple divisions. He first broke through by winning "The Ultimate Fighter" at welterweight in December 2012, then rose to middleweight, where he became UFC champion and a long-term contender. He currently holds a 26-9 MMA record, including 17-7 in the UFC.
On "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Fitzgerald laid out his preferred matchup. "The name I circled is Khalil Rountree Jr. at No. 5," he said, later adding, "in the name of International Fight Week, let's go Australia on the card against Khalil Rountree Jr."
Fitzgerald argued that Whittaker deserves a meaningful matchup at 205. "Or just someone in the mid-range name at 205. Let's give Whittaker his credit for all he's done and the great fights he's had and he's the former champ moving up. Let's see what he's got at this later stage in the division."
With new light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined by an ACL tear, Fitzgerald believes this kind of booking could shake things up. "It injects some life into the division," he said, noting, "Ulberg has the knee injury now and we'll see what's going to happen at 205, but the fact Rountree is a former middleweight, as well (makes it a good fight)."
