UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker was reportedly close to facing a different opponent for his scheduled bout in Sydney, according to a report from Last Word on Sports published on November 4, 2026. The article, written by Kshitiz Kumar Singh Bishop Lister, suggests that Whittaker's original matchup for the UFC Sydney event nearly changed before the fight was finalized.
Details regarding the potential alternative opponent or the reasons behind the near-change were not disclosed in the initial report. Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion, has been a staple in the division's top tier and his fights in Australia typically draw significant local interest.
The UFC Sydney event, referenced as UFC 329 in the accompanying photo caption from IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect, would mark another high-profile appearance for the Australian-born fighter in his home country.
