Former UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker is finally getting his shot to fight in his home country of Australia for the first time in over seven years, stepping into the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 298 against Bogdan Guskov on February 6 at Afterpay Arena in Sydney. This isn’t just another fight; it’s a monumental return for “The Reaper,” especially after the rollercoaster ride he’s been on.
“The Reaper” Comes Home to Sydney After More Than a Decade
Man, it’s wild to think it’s been this long. Whittaker, who holds an impressive 27-9 MMA, 18-7 UFC record, hasn’t fought in Australia since he dropped his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya back in October 2019 at UFC 243 in Melbourne. That’s the only UFC fight he’s ever lost in six trips to the cage in Australia, which is just insane. Even crazier? He hasn’t fought in Sydney itself for a whopping 12 years. His family moved to the Sydney area when he was a baby, so this is truly a homecoming. That last Sydney bout was his sixth fight in the promotion, where he moved up to 185 pounds for the first time and absolutely lit up Clint Hester with a second-round knockout, earning Fight of the Night honors. His record in Sydney stands at a dominant 7-1, and he’s 14-2 overall in Australia. After back-to-back middleweight losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder (the latter a split decision that must have stung), Whittaker took a year off. He then made the jump to light heavyweight in July, starting strong with a third-round TKO over Nikita Krylov at UFC 329. Now, he’s back on home soil, and this fight against Guskov isn’t just a comeback; it’s a statement.
Guskov’s Rollercoaster Year Sets Up a Must-Watch Clash
On the other side of the octagon is Bogdan Guskov, sporting an 18-4-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC record. Guskov has had quite the year himself, cooling off after a four-fight winning streak where he finished every single opponent and snagged bonuses for knockout wins against Zac Pauga and Ryan Spann in 2024. He kept that momentum going in 2025 with wins over Billy Elekana and, ironically, Nikita Krylov, which set him up for his biggest opportunity yet. But MMA is a brutal game, right? At UFC 323 in Las Vegas, he fought former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz to a majority draw, which is basically like a kiss-your-sister moment when you’re that close to a win. He was set for a rematch, but Blachowicz pulled out in May with a torn meniscus. Guskov then stepped in to fight Magomed Ankalaev in July and got put away in the first round. So, he’s looking to bounce back against a legend in Whittaker, on Whittaker’s home turf. Talk about high stakes.
What’s Next for UFC Sydney
This co-main event adds some serious firepower to UFC Sydney. The full card announced so far also includes Quillan Salkilld vs. Benoit Saint Denis, Niushiyue Ji vs. Takaya Suzuki, Marwan Rahiki vs. JooSang Yoo, George Mangos vs. an opponent TBA, and Meng Bo vs. an opponent TBA. But let’s be real, everyone’s eyes are going to be on Whittaker. This fight is huge for his light heavyweight run, especially after that strong debut in the division. Can he keep that momentum going, or will Guskov play spoiler in front of the home crowd? February 6 can’t come fast enough to see how this one plays out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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