Whittaker to Face Guskov in Sydney Homecoming as UFC Announces February Co-Main Event

Robert Whittaker is heading home. The UFC announced on Sunday that the former middleweight champion will meet Bogdan Guskov in a light heavyweight co-main event at UFC Sydney in February, headlined by Quillan Salkilld's lightweight clash with Benoit Saint Denis. Whittaker, 35, reacted with delight in a video released by the promotion. "Super excited to announce my fight in Sydney this February," he said. "I haven't fought in Sydney in 10 years plus. Gonna have all my friends, family and fans here and I am gonna put on a show for you guys. It's gonna be great!" It will be Whittaker's first fight in Sydney since a win over Clint Hester in November 2014, and his first in Australia since 2019. His move to light heavyweight began at UFC 329 in July, following back-to-back middleweight defeats to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder, and he made a successful 205-pound debut by knocking out Nikita Krylov in the third round. For the UFC, adding a former champion with deep local roots gives a card built around Salkilld's first headliner a second major draw — and gives Sydney a homecoming more than a decade in the making.