Whittaker Gets Guskov in the UFC Sydney Co-Main Event

November 2, 2026 · UFC Matchups

Robert Whittaker is staying at light heavyweight, and his next fight is set in his home city. He will meet Bogdan Guskov in the co-main event of UFC Sydney in February.

A fight between two ranked light heavyweights

The promotion announced the pairing, and Whittaker was part of a video reveal. His record is 27-9. Guskov stands at 18-4-1.

Both men sit in the top 11 of the UFC's Meta AI rankings. Whittaker is ranked No. 11 and Guskov No. 10. The media rankings put them in the same spots.

Two different recent runs

Whittaker is a former UFC middleweight champion. He moved up to 205 pounds for his last fight and ended a two-fight skid there. He beat Nikita Krylov in the third round at UFC 329.

Guskov comes in after a loss. Magomed Ankalaev stopped him with a TKO at UFC Abu Dhabi in July. That ended a five-fight unbeaten run in which Guskov won four times and drew with former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.

Back in his home city

Whittaker was born in New Zealand but fights out of Sydney. He has not competed there since November 2014. That night he beat Clint Hester on the UFC Sydney card headlined by Rockhold and Bisping.

UFC Sydney is set for February 7, 2027, at the AfterPay Arena. Quillan Salkilld faces Benoit Saint Denis in the lightweight main event.

What else is booked for the card

Four Road to UFC Season 5 finals have been reported for the event. George Mangos meets Dagiisuren Chagnaadorj at featherweight. Rabindra Dhant faces Ryo Tajima at bantamweight. Ji Niushiyue fights Takaya Suzuki at flyweight. Park Bo-hyun takes on Meng Bo at women's strawweight.

Yoo Joo-sang against Marwan Rahiki is also reported for the card.

Our view

Whittaker at No. 11 meets Guskov at No. 10, so the fight pairs two neighbours in the UFC's rankings. Guskov is coming off his July loss, and Whittaker has only his last fight at 205 pounds to show for the move. Whittaker's light heavyweight run is still short, and a ranked opponent will be a real test of the move.

Source: Cageside Press