Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is booked to face Bogdan Guskov in the co-main event of UFC Sydney on Feb. 6 at Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia. It will be Whittaker's first fight in his home country since losing his title to Israel Adesanya at UFC 243 in 2019, and his first in Sydney since 2014. Whittaker, 35, moved up to light heavyweight in July with a third-round knockout of Nikita Krylov at UFC 329, while Guskov was knocked out in the fifth round by Magomed Ankalaev in his last outing. UFC Sydney is headlined by Quillan Salkilld against Benoit Saint Denis.
Robert Whittaker will return to Australia in February, with the former middleweight champion booked to face Bogdan Guskov in the co-main event of UFC Sydney on Feb. 6 at Afterpay Arena, MMA Fighting reported.
The bout will be Whittaker's first in his home country since he lost his title to Israel Adesanya at UFC 243 in 2019, and his first in Sydney since 2014. The card is headlined by Quillan Salkilld against Benoit Saint Denis.
Whittaker, 35, is 28-9-0 and ranked 11th at light heavyweight, the division he moved up to in July. He opened that chapter with a third-round knockout of Nikita Krylov at UFC 329 on July 11, his most recent recorded fight. That win followed back-to-back losses: a split-decision defeat to Reinier de Ridder in July 2025 and a first-round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024. The Australian lands 4.41 significant strikes per minute at 43 percent accuracy and averages 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Guskov arrives off a fifth-round knockout loss to Magomed Ankalaev in his last outing, a result that ended a title-length fight late.
Headliners and context
Salkilld, 26, is a 13-1-0 lightweight ranked seventh, and the Australian has finished his last three recorded fights. He submitted Mateusz Gamrot in the first round on Aug. 8, stopped Beneil Dariush in the first round in May, and submitted Jamie Mullarkey in the first round in January. He averages 6.86 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Saint Denis, 30, is 17-4-0 and ranked sixth. He is coming off a first-round submission loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329 on July 11, after knockout wins over Dan Hooker and Dariush. His striking numbers are 5.58 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Whittaker's second light heavyweight fight comes in front of a home crowd he has not fought for in more than seven years.
- Guskov is trying to bounce back from the Ankalaev knockout, so the winner will leave Sydney with momentum.
- Whittaker has won once in his last three recorded fights, and a second straight victory would strengthen his early case at 205 pounds.
Quillan Salkilld vs Benoit Saint Denis
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Robert Whittaker vs Bogdan Guskov
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Saturday, February 6, 2027
