Robert Whittaker is coming home.
And waiting for him is a man who has never needed the judges to get his hand raised.
The UFC has announced that Whittaker will face dangerous light heavyweight Bogdan Guskov in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night Sydney at Afterpay Arena on Sunday, February 7.
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The booking adds one of Australian MMA’s biggest names to a card headlined by hyped West Aussie phenom Quillan Salkilld’s showdown with French powerhouse Benoit Saint-Denis.
For ‘Bobby Knuckles’, it means a chance to continue his push at light heavyweight in front of his own fans. It will be Whittaker’s first Sydney appearance in more than 12 years.
For Guskov, it is an opportunity to spoil the party – and add a former champion to his list of victims.
“Fighting in Sydney again is a dream come true,” Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia on Monday morning.
“Especially after having to take the entire tribe across the world to The States.
“I’m in the veteran part of my career and I’m having fun with it. Being able to do it in front of my friends, fans and family is great.”
Whittaker spent years taking on the best middleweights on the planet, building a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected fighters.
But his next fight comes against an opponent whose record makes the danger very clear.
Guskov has finished all 18 of his professional victories, with 15 coming by knockout. Every win has come inside the distance.
The Uzbek puncher established himself as a serious threat at light heavyweight with four consecutive UFC stoppage victories over Zac Pauga, Ryan Spann, Billy Elekana and Nikita Krylov.
Three of those fights ended in the opening round. Spann made it into the second before suffering the same fate.
That run carried Guskov into a clash with former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, with the pair fighting to a majority draw.
His unbeaten streak eventually ended against another former champion, Magomed Ankalaev, who stopped him in the fifth round of their July main event.
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When asked what he thought about the danger Guskov brings to the table, Whittaker was philosophical.
“They are all dangerous customers at light heavyweight,” he said.
“They are all big and they all hit bloody hard.
“The idea is to be quick and nimble on my feet and hit him before he hits me.
“Keep it simple.”
“I know wholeheartedly I can beat everyone in the division.
“His name wasn’t the first one that was thrown around. But his name came into the mix later and he was happy to fight.”
The booking also gives February’s card a strong Aussie presence at the top of the bill.
Salkilld will headline a UFC event for the first time against Saint-Denis, while Whittaker brings the experience of a former world champion to the fight immediately before it.
“How good is it to have headliners left right and centre!” said Whittaker.
“Salkilld, Volk the other week. Nolan yesterday smashing Moicano.
“It’s a great time to be an Aussie.”
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When asked if Alex Volkanovski’s recent world title defence had lifted his spirits, Whittaker was emphatic.
“How can’t it!” he laughed.
“It’d gee-up anyone who is over 35.”
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